Gastrointestinal Pathology I: Salivary Glands, Esophagus, Stomach, and Small Intestine

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering inflammatory and neoplastic diseases of the salivary glands, esophagus, stomach, and small intestine from Gastrointestinal Pathology I lecture.

Sialadenitis

Inflammation of the salivary glands caused by conditions such as sialoliths, mumps, sarcoidosis, or Sjogren syndrome; characteristic clinical symptoms include dry mouth, swelling, and pain.

Sjogren Syndrome

An autoimmune disorder predominantly affecting females in their 4th to 5th decades, characterized by dry mouth and eyes (keratoconjunctivitis sicca), intense lymphocytic infiltration, unilateral or bilateral parotid enlargement, and a $40\times$ increased risk of lymphoma. Approximately $60\%$ of cases are secondary to other autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis or SLE.

Pleomorphic Adenoma

The most common salivary gland tumor, accounting for $60\%$ of parotid tumors; it presents as a lobulated, firm, variably encapsulated lesion with a $10\%$ recurrence rate in the parotid and a $3\%$ to $5\%$ rate of malignant transformation.

Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma

The most common malignant salivary gland tumor, typically occurring in the parotid and minor salivary glands, which may exhibit a distinct bluish color due to mucin accumulation and a cystic growth pattern.

Esophageal Varices

Tortuous, dilated submucosal vessels arising from portal hypertension, present in $40\%$ of cirrhotic patients; while often asymptomatic, their rupture can cause catastrophic, fatal hemorrhage.

Reflux Esophagitis

Esophageal mucosal inflammation caused by the backward flow of gastric contents (GERD) due to decreased lower esophageal sphincter tone or increased abdominal pressure, presenting clinically with heartburn, dysphagia, and regurgitation of sour-tasting gastric juice.

Barrett Esophagus

A complication of chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease characterized by intestinal metaplasia, where the normal stratified squamous epithelium of the distal esophagus is replaced by specialized columnar epithelium; it serves as a critical pre-malignant precursor to adenocarcinoma.

Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

A malignant esophageal epithelial neoplasm most commonly found in the middle third of the esophagus; strongly associated with alcohol, tobacco, nutritional deficiencies, and esophageal motility disorders, showing a $4:1$ male predilection, a $6:1$ African-American to white ratio, and a $9\%$ 5-year survival rate.

Esophageal Adenocarcinoma

An esophageal malignancy typically situated in the distal third of the esophagus, strongly linked to long-standing GERD and Barrett esophagus; it exhibits a $7:1$ male-to-female ratio, predominantly affects white individuals, is often detected late, and has a $25\%$ 5-year survival rate.

Acute Gastritis

An abrupt, transient inflammatory condition of the gastric mucosa induced by cigarette smoking, alcohol, stress, ischemia, infection, or NSAIDs/aspirin, pathologically characterized by edema, acute inflammation, punctate hemorrhage, and mucosal erosion.

Autoimmune Gastritis

A form of chronic gastritis accounting for $10\%$ of cases, characterized by immune destruction of gastric parietal cells, resulting in reduced intrinsic factor, diminished vitamin $B_{12}$ absorption, and pernicious anemia.

Helicobacter pylori

A curved, gram-negative bacillus responsible for approximately $90\%$ of chronic gastritis cases, detected in $65\%$ of gastric ulcers and $85\%$ to $100\%$ of duodenal ulcers; treated with a combination of antibiotics and proton pump inhibitors.

Peptic Ulcer Disease

A condition characterized by recurrent mucosal ulcerations resulting from gastric hyperacidity and mucosal injury (predominantly mediated by H. pylori and NSAID use); $98\%$ of ulcers develop in the stomach or duodenum, with lifetime risks of about $10\%$ in males and $4\%$ in females.

Secretory Diarrhea

A functional category of diarrheal disease (defined as loose or watery stools exceeding $200\,\text{grams}$ per day) characterized by isotonic stool output.

Osmotic Diarrhea

Diarrhea driven by excessive osmotic pressure exerted by unabsorbed luminal solutes, classically occurring in conditions such as lactase (disaccharidase) deficiency.

Exudative Diarrhea

A subtype of diarrheal illness driven by active mucosal inflammatory disease, typically manifesting as purulent and bloody stools.

Celiac Disease

An enteropathy triggered by hypersensitivity to gliadin (a gluten protein found in wheat and related grains) occurring in $1:100$ to $1:200$ Caucasians, morphologically characterized by blunted intestinal villi and mucosal inflammatory infiltrates that resolve upon gluten withdrawal.

Abetalipoproteinemia

A cause of malabsorptive chronic diarrhea originating from a congenital transepithelial transport defect affecting monoglycerides and triglycerides.

Atrophic Glossitis

An oral manifestation of severe malabsorption (such as iron or vitamin $B_{12}$ deficiency) characterized by mucosal atrophy that produces a bald, erythematous, smooth, and tender dorsal tongue surface.

Glossopyrosis

A burning sensation affecting the tongue, commonly reported by patients suffering from atrophic glossitis secondary to systemic nutritional malabsorption.