Pathology Flashcards
What supplies blood to the small intestine
Superior mesenteric artery
What can cause Ischaemia of small bowel
Mesenteric artery atherosclerosis, thromboembolism from heart, shock, drugs, hyperviscosity, drugs (cocaine)
Hypoxia affects what part of the gut wall the greatest
Mucosa, most metabolically active
How is degree of small bowel ischaemia classified
By the degree of infarction caused. from mucosal (lamina propriae is preserved) to mural (penetrates lamina propriae but can be regenerated, fibrosis occurs) to transmural infarction (gangrene, needs to be resected)
What is Meckels diverticlum
A congenital diverticulum, a slight bulge in the small intestine present a birth, a vestigial remnant of the vitello-intestinal duct. Most are asymptomatic
Which tumours are more common in small intestine, primary or secondary
Secondary tumours are more common, metastases from ovary, colon and stomach
What type of Lymphomas of small bowel
Non-Hodgkin type - No Reed-Sternberg cell (crippled germinal centres mainly of B cells)
How can MALTomas of small bowel be treated
Surgery and chemotherapy
Identify - Small, yellow, slow growing tumour. Locally invasive and can cause intussusception and obstruction. Produce hormone like substances, cause diarrhoea and flushing if metastasize to liver.
Carcinoid tumour of small bowel
What is Intussusception
Folding of the intestine into the section next to it
What predisposes to rare tumours of small bowel
Crohns and coeliac disease
Most common cause of Appendicitis
Idiopathic
Pathology of acute appendicitis
Acute inflammation, mucosal ulceration, serosal congestion, exudate and pus in lumen
Complications of appendicitis
Peritonitis, rupture, abscess, fistula, sepsis, liver abscess
What are Coeliac diseases
Autoimmune disorder of the small intestine due to an abnormal immune response to Gluten. This leads to production of various antibodies and inflammation. This reduces absorptive capacity and leads to anaemia.
What serology is associated with coeliac disease
Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) - B8. This is part of the HLA family and codes for Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) which distinguishes different antigen
What is Dermatitis Herpetiformis associated with
It is an itchy, burning skin rash indicating gluten intolerance and sometimes coeliac disease
Suspected toxic agent causing coeliac disease
Gliadin, component of Gluten
What can coeliac disease cause
Loss of villi, flat duodenal mucosa, loss of surface area. Thus reduces absorption and anaemia. Steatorrhea occurs due to inabsorption of fats. Reduced intestinal hormone production leads to reduced pancreatic secretion and bile flow causing gallstones
There is an increase in intraepithelial lymphocytes and inflammation in lamina propria
True
Diagnosing coeliac disease
Endoscopy - Mucosa maybe normal or attenuated, Serology - For anti-Tissue Transglutinamase, anti-endomesial and anti-gliadin
Which oesophagitis is more common, acute or chronic
Chronic due to gastric acid reflux causing metaplastic change. Acute oesophagitis is more common in immunocompromised patients such as candiasis, herpes
What is reflux oesophagitis
Inflammation of oesophagus due to reflux gastric acid
Cause of reflux oesophagitis
Hiatus hernia (stomach moves into chest cavity), defective sphincter, increased abdominal pressure (pregnancy), abnormal oesophageal motility
How is increased desquamation due to reflux oesophagitis compensated for
By basal zone hyperplasia and elongation of connective tissue papillae
Complications of reflux oesophageal
Ulceration, bleeding, stricture, Barrett’s oesophagus
What is Barrette’s oesophagus
Metaplastic change of oesophageal stratified squamous epithelium to gastric golumnar goblet cells.
How does Barrette’s mucosa look macroscopically
Red velvety mucosa in oesophagus
Allergic oesophagitis is more common in what gender
Male > females, increased eosinophils in blood
What is spotty/feline/corrugated oesophagus known as
Allergic oesophagus
How is allergic oesophagitis seen microscopic
Increased intraepithelial eosinophils
Treatment of allergic oesophagitis
Steroids, chromoglycate, montelukast (leukotriene receptor antagonist)
What is a papilloma
Small wart like growth on the skin or mucous membrane, derived from epidermis and usually benign
Common causes of small cell carcinoma
Vitamin A or Zinc deficiency, tannic acid, smoking, alcohol, HPV, genetic, gastric reflux
What cancer of oesophagus is more common in caucasians
Adenocarcinoma of oesophagus, more common in obese males
Pathogenesis of adenocarcinoma of oesophagus
Chronic reflux oesophagitis - Barrett’s oesophagus - Low grade dysplasia - High grade dysplasia - Adenocarcinoma
Adenocarcinoma can cause?
Dysphagia and obstruction
General symptoms of metastases
Anaemia, weight loss, loss of energy
How can oral squamous cell carcinoma present
Variable, usually - red, white, speckled, ulcer lump
What is verrucous carcinoma
Uncommon variant of squamous cell carcinoma often seen in those who chew tobacco or use snuff orally.
What can cause gastrooesophageal reflux disease
Incompetent lower oesophagus sphincter, poor oesophageal clearance, barrier function/visceral sensitivity
What is water brash
Sour taste in the mouth due to stomach contents rising up the oesophagus.
What is odynophasia
Painful swallowing
Investigations for GORD
Endoscopy, barium swallow (ancient, not used anymore), oesophageal manometry & pH studies, nuclear studies
Common cause of dyspepsia
Indigestion is commonly caused by GORD
What is pernicious anaemia
Anaemia in which the body has lost stomach cells that are involved in the synthesis of intrinsic factor. This intrinsic factor helps absorb vitamin B12.
LIfestyle modifications for GORD
Stop smoking, lose weight, avoid provoking, prop up bed head
Are antacids useful for GORD
Symptomatic relief, however it does not heal oesophagitis nor prevent further complications
Histamine (H2) receptor antagonists that can be used for GORD
Cimetidine - Rapid symptomatic relief, less effective at healing than placebo
Ranitidine - Poor in preventing relapse and complications, tolerance after 4/52 week therapy
Proton pump inhibitors vs H2 receptor antagonist in treatment of GORD
Proton pump inhibitors such as Omeprazole are more effective at symptom relief and healing than H2 antagonists (ranitidine, cimetidine)
Treatment of GORD or hiatus hernia in young patients
Nissen fundoplication, heals oesophagitis with good control of symptoms
Is Barrett’s oesophagus reversible
No but recent findings point otherwise
Type of hiatus hernia
Sliding where the stomach slides into the oesophagus increasing risk of GORD. Second type is paraoesophageal hiatus hernia where the stomach pushes through beside the oesophagus
What is gastroparesis
Disease of the muscles of stomach or nerves controlling these muscles that causes it to stop working. It results in inadequate grinding and poor emptying of food from stomach.
Symptoms of gastroparesis
Feeling of fullness, nausea, vomiting, weight loss, upper abdominal pain
Causes of gastroparesis
Idiopathic, diabetes mellitus, cannabis, medication (opiates, anticholinergics), systemic disease (systemic sclerosis)
Management of gastroparesis
Remove precipitating factors (drugs), liquid diet, eat little and often, promotility agents, gastric pacemaker
What is achalasia
Disease of muscles of lower oesophagus that prevents relaxation of sphincter and absence of contractions and hence peristalsis of oesophagus.
Common cause of chronic gastritis
ABC - Autoimmune, bacterial and chemical