Upper GI Diseases Flashcards
What are the names of the 2 oesophageal sphincters?
1) Upper end - cricopharyngeal
2) Lower end - gastro-oesophageal junction
What epithelium lines the oesophagus?
Mostly stratified squamous, distal 1.5-2cm are usually situated below the diaphragm and are lined by glandular (columnar) mucosa
How far from the incisors is the squamo-columnar junction usually located?
40cm
Normal oesophageal histology involved what 3 layers?
1) Mucosa - made up of epithelium and underlying lamina propria
2) Submucosa
3) Muscularis propria
Which histological layer of the oesophagus contains the major blood vessels and lymphatics?
The submucosa
What is oesophagitis?
Inflammation of the oesophagus
What are the 2 classifications of oesophagitis?
Acute or chronic
What are the 2 main causes of oesophagitis?
1) Infections
2) Chemical (ingestion of corrosive substances, or reflux of gastric contents)
What 4 infectious agents can cause oesophagitis?
1) Bacteria
2) Viral - HSV1
3) Viral - CMV
4) Fungal - candida
What is the most common cause of oesophagitis?
Reflux oesophagitis
What is reflux oesophagitis?
Oesophagitis caused by reflux of gastric acid (gastro-oesophageal reflux) and/or bile (duodeno-gastric reflux)
What is the leading clinical symptom of reflux oesophagitis?
Heart burn
What are the 4 main risk factors for reflux oesophagitis?
1) Defective lower oesophageal sphincter
2) Hiatus hernia
3) Increased intrabdominal pressure (obesity)
4) Increased gastric fluid volume due to gastric outflow stenosis (Eg. antral tumour)
What is a hiatal hernia?
Abnormal bulging of the stomach through the diaphragm
What is the difference between a sliding hiatal hernia and a para-oesophageal hernia?
Part of stomach herniates below the oesophagus (oesophagus pulled up)
Para-oesophageal hernia - part of stomach herniates alongside the oesophagus
What is the most common complication of a sliding hiatal hernia?
Reflux symptoms
What is the most common complication of a para-oesophageal hernia?
Strangulation (compromised blood supply to that part of the stomach - can get ischaemia and necrosis of stomach)
What 4 changes are seen histologically in the squamous epithelium/lamina propria in reflux oesophagitis?
1) Basal cell hyperplasia (rather than being 1/2 layers thick normally, this is due to increased proliferation and cell turnover)
2) Elongation of papillae (lamina propria papillae normally project 1/3 way into epithelium, project further)
3) Increased cell desquamation (squamous epithelium is normally 8-15 layers thick, much thinner)
4) Inflammatory cell infiltration into lamina propria (neutrophils, eosinophils, lymphocytes)
What are the 5 main complications of reflux disease?
1) Ulceration - erosion of the epithelium and then underlying layers
2) Haemorrhage - ulceration gets to submucosa and hits vessels
3) Perforation
4) Benign stricturing - if get some healing by fibrosis can then get stricturing leading to segmental narrowing and dysphagia
5) Barrett’s oesophagus
What is the cause of Barrett’s oesophagus?
Long standing reflux
What are the 3 risk factors for Barrett’s oesophagus?
Same as for reflux disease
1) Male
2) Caucasian
3) Obese
How does Barrett’s oesophagus appear macroscopically?
Proximal extension of the squamo-columnar junction
Histologically what is Barrett’s oesophagus?
Squamous epithelium of oesophagus is replaced by glandular (columnar) mucosa - through metaplasia
At what level is the squamo-columnar junction of the oesophagus normally seen?
Level of the diaphragm
What 3 types of columnar mucosa can be seen in Barrett’s oesophagus but which is most typical and almost diagnostic of Barrett’s oesophagus?
1) Gastric cardia type
2) Gastric body type
3) Intestinal type = most typical of Barrett’s oesophagus
What cells are found in the intestinal mucosa and not in the gastric mucosa which are highly suggestive of Barrett’s if seen in the oesophagus?
Goblet cells
Is Barrett’s oesophagus a malignant condition?
No but it is considered a premalignant condition with an increased risk of developing adenocarcinoma
What screening procedure is required in patients with Barrett’s oesophagus?
Regular endoscopic surveillance for early detection of neoplasm
What are the 4 steps in the progression from Barrett’s oesophagus to adenocarcinoma, and the main histological features of each?
1) Barrett’s oesophagus - intestinal type epithelium, see goblet cells, normal nuclei basally located
2) Low grade dysplasia - More complex architecture, less basally located nuclei more atypical
3) High grade dysplasia - Distorted architecture and atypical nuclei
4) Adenocarcinoma - All features of dysplasia and cells breaking through basement membrane to invade other structures
How common is oesophageal cancer compared to other cancers?
8th most common in the world
What are the histological types of oesophageal cancer?
1) Squamous cell carcinoma - originating from the normal oesophageal epithelium
2) Adenocarcinoma - following on from Barrett’s, originating from glandular epithelium
In the UK is squamous or adenocarcinoma more common, how does this compare to other countries?
Adenocarcinoma more common (could be due to obesity - risk factor for Barrett’s)
Other countries squamous is more common
Whats the main cause of adenocarcinoma and what are the other 2 possible risk factors?
1) Barrett’s oesophagus
Other risk factors with a link:
Tobacco, obesity
What is the normal sight of an adenocarcinoma?
Lower oesophagus
How would the macroscopic appearance of a polypoidal, ulcerated adenocarcinoma differ?
Polypoidal - sticks out into the lumen of the oesophagus, could lead to problems with swallowing
Ulcerated - appears as an ulcer
What are the 6 possible macroscopic structures of an adenocarcinoma?
1) Plaque-like
2) Nodular
3) Fungating
4) Ulcerated
5) Depressed
6) Infiltrating