Session 8- Malignancy Flashcards
What are the red flag symptoms associated with dysphagia? (ALARM)
A-anaemia L-loss of weight A-anorexia R-recent onset of progressive symptoms M-malaena, masses
What type of malignant tumour is associated with stratified squamous epithelium?
Squamous cell carcinoma
What type of malignant tumour is associated with columnar epithelium?
Adenocarcinoma
What are the risk factors associated with developing oesophageal carcinomas?
Barett’s oesophagus, smoking
Why is prognosis usually poor for oesophageal carcinomas?
They have usually grown a lot before they cause symptoms, so spread is common at presentation
What are some benign differentials for epigastric pain?
Gastritis, peptic ulcers, pancreatitis…
What are red flag symptoms associated with jaundice?
Unintentional weight loss, hepatomegaly (irregular border), ascites, painless jaundice
What is Mallory Weiss syndrome?
Repeated vomiting causes tears to oesophagus
What are risk factors for gastric cancer?
Smoking, high salt diet, family history, H.Pylori infection
What investigations would you do to confirm gastric cancer diagnosis?
Endoscopy and take biopsy
What is the most common type of tumour in gastric cancer?
Adenocarcinoma
What are the three ways metastases can spread to the liver?
Through the blood, through the lymph and through body cavities (transcoelomic)
What is the most common malignant tumour affecting the exocrine pancreas?
Ductal adenocarcinoma
Why are tumours in the head of the pancreas more likely to be detected than those in the body or tail of the pancreas?
If in the head, can cause compression of bile duct leading to jaundice. Symptoms from tail/body tumours are much more vague
What are some risk factors for pancreatic cancer?
Family history, smoking, older age, chronic pancreatitis
what are malignancies affecting the bile duct?
Cholangiocarcinoma
What are common symptoms associated with a blockage in the bowels?
Abdominal distension and abdominal pain
How would symptoms vary depending on if there was a blockage in the small compared to the large bowel?
Small bowel: vomiting first
Large bowel: constipation first
What is complete constipation?
Patients are unable to pass gas as well as faeces
What are some red flag symptoms of obstruction of the bowels?
Weight loss, unexplained abdominal pain
What some red flag symptoms for PR bleeding?
Over 40, unexplained weight loss/abdominal pain, iron-deficiency anaemia, change in bowel habit
What is tenesmus?
Still feeling the need to defecate after emptying the bowels
What are some risk factors for large bowel cancer?
Family history, IBD, polyposis
What are the differences between left and right side colon cancer?
right sided: obstruction and changes in bowel habit are less likely. Therefore usually present at a more advanced stage
