Upper GI Pathology Flashcards
Prevalence increases with age?
True but not uncommon now to get it in 20’s
More prone gender for mouth cancer
Males and least deprived part of society
Cause of oral cancer
Tobacco, alcohol, diet and nutrition, HPV, candida
Are hand made cigarrettes less harmful?
No as there are no filters, more harmful
Risks of e-cigarettes
Exploding batteries, children getting hold of juice and drinking it, also has low levels of carcinogens
Risks with hookah or shisha
Water doesn’t filter toxic chemicals and infectious diseases can be passed on when sharing hookah
Why do people chew tobacco
Suppress appetite (especially when working long tiring hours), cultural norm
Upper alcohol limit in men and women
14 units per week
What is binge drinking for me
> 8 units in one sitting
Oral cancer and smoking
More you smoke, higher your chances of oral cancer
Deficiency of what makes you more susceptible to oral cancer
Vitamin A, C and iron. Atrophy of oral mucosa makes more susceptible to carcinogens
Usual signs of oral cancer
Erythroleukoplakia. It can be infection but if antibiotic have been given for a few weeks with no change in the white and red patches, send to screen for oral cancer. Numb feeling, change in voice, dysphagia, unexplained pain, ulcers
One side of tongue seems fine, should the other side be checked for
Yes as subtle changes can occur on either side
High risk sites for oral cancer
Soft, non-keratinizing sites such as ventral/floor of mouth and lateral tongue
Rare sites of oral cancer
Dorsal tongue and hard palate
What is erythroplakia
Red patch on oral mucosa that can’t be accounted for by any specific disease
What is leukoplakia
Thick, white patches that form on your tongue and lining of mouth
What is a mixture of erythroplakia and leukoplakia called
Erythroleukoplakia
What is common in India due to tobacco chewing
Oral submucous fibrosis - Chronic, premalignant condition of oral cavity. Inflammation and progressive fibrosis of submucosal tissue which eventually causes the jaw to become rigid and not open
What can dyskeratosis congenita cause
Leukoplakia, nail dystrophy and increased skin pigmentation
Oral cancer can lead to
Facial palsy (drooping of eye lids), fracture of mandible, double vision, blocked or bleeding nose, facial sweling
Questions to ask patient who presents with lesion in oral cavity
How long has the lesion been present
Is it painful
What colour
Smoke or drink
Why do we ask how long patient’s had lesion
A lesion usually takes 1-14 days to heal after trauma. Any longer might be a malignant sign
Oesophageal vs gastric cancer prognosis
Oesophageal cancer has a better outcome than gastric cancer
