Session 10 Flashcards
What are the 2 types of oesophageal carcinoma
Adenocarcinoma (Lower third)
Squamous cell carcinoma (Anywhere)
What are the clinical features of oesophageal carcinoma?
Dysphagia that progressively worsens
Weight
How can you investigate maliganancys of the GI tract?
Barium swallow CT X-Ray Ultrasound Barium enema Endoscopy Colonoscopy Biopsies
What may have a link to an increased risk of Oesophageal carcinoma (Adenocarcinoma)?
Barrett’s oesophagus (Metaplasia of stratified squamous epithelium to simple columnar epithelium with goblet cells which are usually found in the lower GI tract)
What causes Barrett’s oesophagus?
Thought to be due to acid reflux
Why is it harder to remove oesophageal carcinomas?
Usually patient presents later so worse prognosis
Close to mediastinal structures (eg heart) so high risk of injury when operating
What are some of the clinical features of gastric cancer?
Epigastric pain
Vomiting
Weight loss
Not in all cases
What are some of the macroscopic features of gastric cancer?
Fungating
Ulcerating
Infiltrating
What are some of the microscopic features of gastric cancer?
Intestinal cells - varying degree of gland formation
Diffuse cells - Single cells in small groups called signet ring cells. Make lots of mucin
What gastric cancer has good prognosis?
Early (confined to the mucosa/sub mucosa)
What gastric cancer has poor prognosis?
Advanced (Further spread through the gastric wall to lymph nodes, peritoneal cavity where it can go to the ovaries and liver)
How can gastric cancer spread?
Directly
Via lymph nodes
Via the hepatic portal system
Trans-coelomic to ovaries and peritonium
What is Veirkov’s node?
Gastric metastases in the subclavian lymph node
How can you treat gastric cancer with Herceptin?
Some patients have raised HER2 levels with gastric cancer so can give a HER2 blocker (Herceptin) to shrink the tumour.
What is associated with Gastric cancer?
Chronic inflammation due to Helicobacter pylori