Patho Flashcards
What are 2 etiologies of rhinitis?
1) Allergic (type 1 to allergens in atopic individual)
2) Infective (usually viral)
What is the pathogenesis of viral rhinitis?
Viral necrosis of surface epithelial cells
→ exudation of fluid and mucus
→ submucosal edema → swelling and nasal obstruction
Viral infection of the upper respiratory tract may spread to ___________ and predisposes the px to ______________.
Spread to lower tract and predisposes px to secondary bacterial infection
What is the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis?
Prior exposure to allergen → activate Th2 and Tfh → B cells IgE switching → bind to FcεRI on mast cell
1) Repeat exposure to allergen → bind to IgE on Mast cell FcεRI
2) FcεRI crosslink → activte mast cells →
i) histamines
- ↑vascular permeability → exudate + mucosal edema
ii) Chymase
- stimulate mucus secretion
In allergic rhinitis, if the antigenic stimulus persists, the mucosa may become swollen and polyploid, leading to the formation of ______________.
Nasal polyps
What is a nasal polyp
Localised outgrowths of lamina propria due to accumulation of oedema fluid, inflammation and fibroblast proliferation
- Often multiple and bilateral and involve nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses
- usually 2° to prolonged allergic rhinitis
What is sinusitis?
Inflammation of the paranasal sinus linings of the maxillary, ethmoid and frontal sinuses
Sinusitis is often a/w ______, predisposes a px to __________ and in severe cases may spread to _______.
a/w rhinitis
predispose to 2° bacterial infection (↓drainage of secretions)
spread to meninges
True or false:
Nasopharyngeal carcinomas are often detected early.
False.
Nasopharynx is an inaccessible site, tumours often undetected until they are sizeable or have spread
True or false.
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is rare throughout most of the world but is endemic/common in SG.
True
What are 2 types of nasopharyngeal carcinoma?
1) Non-keratinizing carcinoma (95%)
2) Keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma
3) Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma
How is non-keratinising NPC differentiated from keratinising NPC?
Non-keratinising
- poorly differentiated
- intermingled lymphocytes amongst carcinoma cells
Keratinising
- resembles SCC
- a/w smoking and alcohol consumption
- keratin pearls
What are 3 main risk factors for NPC?
1) EBV infection @ young age
2) Salt-preserved food
3) FHx
True or false:
EBV infection alone is sufficient to incite the pathogenesis of NPC.
False.
Other factors must contribute to NPC development
Primary EBV infection is typically (severe/subclinical) in childhood, and is associated with later development of several malignancies, including __________ as EBV infects the nasopharyngeal epithelium and tonsillar B lymphocytes.
Subclinical in childhood (but Infection in adolescence more likely to be symptomatic (infectious mononucleosis or ‘glandular fever’))
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma
True or false:
In Singapore, annual screening (EBV IgA antibody test and nasoendoscopy) is recommended in people with strong family history (2 close family members with NPC).
True
What are the 2 screening tests for NPC?
1) EBV IgA
2) Nasoendoscopy
What are 3 symptoms of NPC?
1) Diplopia
- invasion of CN6
2) Hearing loss and tinnitus
- obstruction to eustachian tube/secretory otitis media
3) Nasal obstruction, epistaxis, serous nasal discharge
What is the most common cause of epiglottitis in children?
Haemophilus influenzae
What are 2 childhood disease that (i) cause airway obstruction (ii) largely eradicated by vaccination in SG?
1) Corynebacterium diphtheriae
- exotoxin → epithelial necrosis → pseudomembrane → aspirated → airway obstruction
- DTaP vax
2) Haemophilus influenzae
- acute epiglottis → airway obstruction
- HiB vax
Acute pharyngitis and laryngitis is usually caused by (bacterial/viral) infection
Viral
What are 3 symptoms of Acute pharyngitis and laryngitis?
1) Sore throat (supraglottic)
2) Hoarseness (glottic)
3) Cough
4) Tracheal soreness (subglottic/trachea)
What is stridor?
breathing sound due to large airway obstruction,
usually worse in inspiration
What is croup?
In children, cough + stridor due to infection = croup