Upper GI Tract Pathology Flashcards
What is oesophageal reflux?
Reflux of gastric acid into the oesophagus
What pathologies arise from oesophageal reflux?
Thickening of squamous epithelium and ulceration of oesophagus (severe reflux)
What are the complications of oesophageal reflux?
Healing by fibrosis: stricture formation, impaired oesophageal motility and oesophageal obstruction
Barrett’s Oesophagus
What is Barrett’s Oesophagus?
Metaplasia where squamous epithelium changes to glandular epithelium (pre-malignant)
What are the two histological types of oesophageal cancer?
Squamous carcinoma and adenocarcinoma (Barrett’s Oesophagus)
What are the risk factors for oesophageal cancer?
Squamous Carcinoma - smoking, alcohol and dietary carcinogens
Adenocarcinoma - Barrett’s metaplasia and obesity
What are the local effects of oesophageal cancer?
Obstruction, ulceration and perforation
What is the spread of oesophageal cancer?
Direct -to surrounding structures
Lymphatic Spread - to regional lymph nodes
Blood Spread - to the liver
What is the prognosis of oesophageal cancer?
Very poor - 5yr survival rate less than 15%
What are the three types of gastritis?
Autoimmune
Bacterial
Chemical Injury
What is the cause of Autoimmune Gastritis
Organ specific autoimmune disease where autoantibodies attack parietal cells and intrinsic factor
What is the pathology of Autoimmune Gastritis?
Atrophy of specialised acid secreting gastric epithelium which causes decreased acid secretion and loss of intrinsic factor
What bacterium is most commonly related with bacterial gastritis?
Helicobacter pylori
What is helicobacter pylori and where is it found?
A gram negative bacterium which is found in gastric mucus on the surface of gastric epithelium
What is the role of helicobacter pylori in bacterial gastritis?
It produces acute and chronic inflammatory response and increased acid production
