10 Gastrointestinal System Disorders

Flashcards on Gastrointestinal System Disorders

Oral Cavity Inflammation

Inflammation of the oral cavity mainly due to viruses or fungi such as HSV Type 1, EBV, Coxsackievirus, Candida albicans.

Examples of Oral Cavity Inflammation

Includes Stomatitis, Cheilitis, Glossitis, Gingivitis, Periodontitis, Dental caries, Sialadenitis, and Pharyngitis.

Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity

Carcinoma in the oral cavity, more prevalent in males, often linked to smoking, typically squamous cell carcinoma.

Oesophagitis

Inflammation of the oesophagus, often due to Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GORD/GERD) or infections like Candida albicans.

Gastroeosophageal reflux disease (GORD/GERD)

Reflux of gastric acid into the lower oesophagus leading to dyspepsia, dysphagia, and potentially Barrett’s oesophagus and adenocarcinoma.

Oesophageal varices

Dilated veins in the oesophagus due to cirrhosis of the liver and portal hypertension.

Plummer-Vinson Syndrome

Sideropenic dysphagia characterized by iron deficiency, difficulty in swallowing, atrophic glossitis, iron deficiency anaemia and koilonychia.

SCC of the Oesophagus

Carcinoma of the oesophagus often due to smoking, alcohol, chronic oesophagitis, or Plummer-Vinson syndrome, presenting with late dysphagia and haematemesis.

Hiatus hernia

Protrusion of part of the stomach into the thoracic cavity through the diaphragmatic hiatus.

Sliding hiatus hernia

Hiatus hernia where the gastroesophageal junction slides above the diaphragm.

Paraoesophageal (rolling) hiatus hernia

Hiatus hernia where part of the stomach protrudes into the thorax next to the oesophagus.

Acute (erosive) gastritis

Gastritis characterized by erosions, often due to alcohol, aspirin, H. pylori, or NSAIDs.

Chronic Helicobacter-associated (hypertrophic) gastritis

Most common type of chronic gastritis, associated with Helicobacter pylori infection.

Chronic atrophic (autoimmune) gastritis

Chronic gastritis involving autoantibodies against parietal cells, potentially leading to gastric cancer.

Reactive gastritis

Gastritis due to chemical irritants, reflux, NSAIDs or bile reflux.

Acute Peptic Ulcers

Progression of acute gastritis that may lead to chronic peptic ulcers.

Chronic Peptic Ulcers

Peptic ulcers associated with genetics, smoking, increased HCL, decreased blood supply, decreased mucus, and H. pylori infection.

Gastric Ulcer Pain

Gnawing pain in the epigastrium 1-3 hours after meals, characterizing gastric ulcers.

Duodenal Ulcer Pain

Steady pain in the mid-epigastrium 2-4 hours after meals, characterizing duodenal ulcers.

Diverticula

Outpouchings in the walls of tubular organs, commonly occurring in the intestine.

Meckel’s Diverticulum

True diverticulum; congenital in the ileum; may contain pancreatic or gastric choristomata.

Diverticulosis

A false diverticula found in the jejunum that are mostly symptomless.

Crohn’s Disease

Relapsing-remitting granulomatous inflammation that may occur anywhere in the GIT but is common in the ileum; features include skip lesions and cobblestone pattern.

Malabsorption Syndrome

Poor absorption due to conditions like pancreatic insufficiency, parasites, ileal resection, Crohn’s disease, or liver disease.

Coeliac disease (gluten enteropathy)

Autoantibodies to gluten → mucosal atrophy.

Acute appendicitis

Obstruction and subsequent infection of the organ, presenting as “acute abdomen” and requiring surgical intervention.

Mucocoele of Appendix

Accumulation of mucus inside the appendix due to obstruction.

Infections of the GI System

Transmitted by contaminated food/water, cause diarrhoea and fever; examples include Rotaviruses, Salmonella typhi, and Giardia lamblia

Volvulus

Twisting or rotation of a loop(s) of bowel → ileus, vascular obstruction, gangrene.

Meconium ileus

Intestinal obstruction by meconium, seen in 10-20% of cystic fibrosis cases.

Intussusception

Invagination of one part of the bowel into the lumen immediately distal to it.

Ulcerative colitis

Chronic inflammation/ulceration of the colon mucosa. May lead to pseudopolyps

Diverticulosis of colon

Diverticula that are false and found in the sigmoid/rectum.

Benign Tumours of the colon

Premalignant growths in the Sigmoid, rectum

Familial Polyposis Coli

An Auto. dominant condition; where 100’s of benign adenomatous polyps form in the GIT (mostly rectum) → Ca in 15-20yrs

Peutz-Jegherssyndrome

Auto. dominant; benign polyps; increased melanin pigmentation → Ca of colon

Gardner’s syndrome

Auto. dominant; benign polyps; osteomas → Ca of colon.

Turcot’ssyndrome

Auto. recessive; benign polyps; gliomas → Ca of colon.

Colonic Carcinoma

Very common, more so in males >55 yrs, and in the rectum & sigmoid; Due to“Western” diet, chronic constipation, and genetic factors.

Haemorrhoids

Varicosities due to diet, chronic constipation, obesity, pregnancy, and portal HT