Pathology Upper GI Flashcards
What is the J line?
The gastro-oesophageal junction
What type of epithilium lines the oesophagus?
Stratified squamous epithilium
What can be found in the submucosa of the oesophagus?
Submucosal glands which secrete mucin to protect the oesophagus
Acute oesophagitis is rare. What cases it?
Corrosive agents following injection
What can cause acute oesophagitis in immunocomprimised patients?
Candida, herpes, CMV
Chronic oesophagitis is common. What is the most common cause?
Reflux disease- reflux oesophagitis
What are the rare causes of chronic oesophagitis?
Crohn’s disease
What is reflux oesophagitis?
Inflammation of the oesophagus due to refluxed low pH gastric content
What causes reflux oesophagitis?
1) Defective sphincter mechanism/ hiatus hernia
2) Abnormal oesophageal motility
3) Increased intra-abdominal pressure (obesity and pregnancy)
What are the microscopic changes in reflux oesophagitis?
Basal zone expansion and lengthening of papillae due to increased desquamation
Intraepithilial neutrophils, lymphocytes and eosinophils (small numbers)
Increase replication leads to a greater chance of mutation. T or F?
True
What are some of the complications of reflux oesophagitis?
Ulceration and bleeding (if the epithilium cannot regenerate fast enough)
Strictures(due to fibrosis following inflammation => narrowing and dysphagia
Barretts Oesophagus
What is Barrett’s oesophagus?
Replacement of stratified squamous epithilium of the oesophagus with columnar epithilium of the stomach. Metaplasia due to stress
What causes Barrett’s oesophagus?
Persistent reflux of acid or bile => expansion of columnar epithilium from gastric glands or from submucosal glands.
Protective response
Can differention from oesophageal stem cells cause barrett’s oesophagus?
Yes. The differentiated cells do not change its the new cells which differentiate differently
How does Barretts’s oesophagus appear macroscopically?
Red velvetty mucosa replacing the normal mucosa
What are the microscopic chages in Barrett’s oesophagus?
Looks like stomach and small bowel.
Has goblet cells wich produce musin to protect the oesophagus from the acid and enzymes
What are the complications of Barrett’s oesophagus?
Increased risk of developing dysplasia and carcinoma of the oesophagus. Unstable mucosa
How is barrett’s oesophagus managed?
Medically and surveillance/screening although the value is disputed
What are the greatest risk factors for adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma of the oesophagus?
Adenocardinoma= acid reflux
Squamous cell carcinoma = Smoking and drinking
What is allergic oesophagitis?
Eosinophilic oesophagitis. Inflammation of the oesophagus due to to an allergen. NOT due to acid reflux
Who gets allergic oesophagitis?
Both children and adults.
Males more than females
Those with a personal or family history of atopy or asthma
What are the signs of allergic oesophagitis?
Increased eosinophils in the blood and biopsy tissue
Corrugated or spotty oesophagus. Looks like the trachea
What is the treatment for allergic oesophagitis?
Steroids, chromoglycate, montelukast
Will not respond to PPIs or surgery
What type of tumours are commonly found in the oesophagus?
Benign = rare
Malignant = more common
Majority are primary tumours rather than secondary tumours which have invaded the oesophagus
What is the most common benign tumour of the oesophagus?
Squamous papilloma
Rare, assymptomatic and HPV related.
Wart on the epithilium
What are the common malignant tumours?
Squamous cell carcinoma (more common in males) and adenocarcinoma
What are the causes/risk factors for squamous cell carcinoma?
Smoking, Alcohol Vitamin A/Zinc deficiency HPV Oesophagitis Genetic
What are the complications of oesophageal cancers?
Dysphagia,
Ulceration
What are the microscopic changes in squamous cell carcinoma?
Keratin pearls
Dysplasia
What are the risk factors fro adenocarcinomaof the oesophagus?
Male
Obesity => GORD
Most common in the western world and in the lower 1/3rd of the oesophagus
If someone presents with dysphagia, what should you do?
Endoscopy and biopsy
Why is it important to differentiate adino carcinoma from squamous cell carcinoma?
Effects targeted therapies
What are the mechanisms of metastates or cancer spread?
Direct invasion
Lymphatic permiation
Vascular invasion
Why are lymph node metastates common in oesophageal carcinoma?
Because there is a chain of lymph nodes along the oesophagus and stomach surface
What is the 5 year survival of oesophageal cancer?
5-10%
Where does oesophageal cancer often spread to in the blood stream?
Liver
How may oesophageal cancer present?
Dysphagia- red flag. Due to tumour obstruction
General symptoms of malignancy if they present with spread- Anaemia, weight loss, lethargy
What ia a Mallory Weiss tear and what causes it?
Superficial tear in the oesophagus often due to sustained and prolonged vomiting increasing pressure.