Upper & Lower GI Pathology – Vocabulary Review

A comprehensive vocabulary set covering key diseases, lesions, clinical signs, and laboratory terms from upper and lower gastrointestinal pathology, pancreatology, and hepatobiliary disorders.

Dysphagia

Difficulty in swallowing, often a symptom of esophageal obstruction or motility disorder.

Odynophagia

Painful swallowing, commonly seen with esophageal ulcers or infections.

Heartburn

Retrosternal burning sensation caused by reflux of gastric contents into the esophagus.

Hematemesis

Vomiting of blood or coffee-ground material from upper GI bleeding.

Melena

Black, tarry stool indicating digested blood from an upper GI source.

Candida Esophagitis

Fungal infection producing white pseudomembranes that scrape off, leaving raw mucosa.

Herpes Simplex Esophagitis

Viral infection with punched-out ulcers and Cowdry type-A intranuclear inclusions.

Tracheoesophageal Fistula

Congenital connection between trachea and esophagus causing aspiration and vomiting after feeds.

Esophageal Web

Asymmetric mucosal shelf causing partial obstruction; associated with Plummer-Vinson syndrome.

Schatzki Ring

Concentric mucosal ring at gastroesophageal junction causing intermittent solid-food dysphagia.

Plummer-Vinson Syndrome

Triad of dysphagia, esophageal webs, and iron-deficiency anemia; ↑ risk of SCC.

Zenker Diverticulum

Pharyngoesophageal false pouch through Killian triangle causing halitosis and regurgitation.

Achalasia

Failure of LES relaxation with absent peristalsis due to myenteric plexus loss; ‘bird-beak’ barium sign.

Hiatal Hernia

Protrusion of stomach through esophageal hiatus; sliding type linked to reflux.

Mallory-Weiss Tear

Longitudinal mucosal laceration at GE junction after forceful vomiting; causes hematemesis.

Boerhaave Syndrome

Transmural esophageal rupture due to severe vomiting; mediastinitis emergency.

Esophageal Varices

Dilated submucosal veins in distal esophagus from portal hypertension; massive bleed risk.

Reflux Esophagitis

Inflammation from chronic GERD causing heartburn and possible ulceration or stricture.

Barrett Esophagus

Intestinal metaplasia of distal esophagus (columnar with goblet cells) secondary to GERD; premalignant for adenocarcinoma.

Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Cancer linked to alcohol, smoking, Plummer-Vinson; mid-upper esophagus favored.

Esophageal Adenocarcinoma

Malignancy arising from Barrett metaplasia in lower third of esophagus.

Pyloric Stenosis

Hypertrophy of pyloric muscle in first-born males (2-6 wk) producing projectile non-bilious vomiting and ‘olive’ mass.

Duodenal Atresia

Congenital lumen closure causing bilious vomiting and ‘double-bubble’ radiograph; associated with Down syndrome.

Gastric Heterotopia

Isolated nests of gastric mucosa in esophagus or intestine, possibly causing ulceration.

Acute Gastritis

Transient mucosal inflammation from NSAIDs, alcohol, stress, burns (Curling) or CNS injury (Cushing).

Curling Ulcer

Acute gastric ulcer after severe burns or trauma.

Cushing Ulcer

Acute gastric/duodenal ulcer from intracranial injury raising vagal tone and acid.

Chronic Autoimmune Gastritis

Type A gastritis with anti-parietal antibodies, gland atrophy, achlorhydria, and pernicious anemia.

Helicobacter pylori Gastritis

Type B chronic gastritis with spiral bacteria, antral predilection, risk for ulcer and MALT lymphoma.

Peptic Ulcer Disease

Solitary mucosal ulcer in stomach or duodenum due to acid-pepsin injury, H. pylori, NSAIDs, or Z-E syndrome.

Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome

Gastrin-secreting tumor (gastrinoma) causing refractory multiple peptic ulcers and acid hypersecretion.

Duodenal Ulcer Pain Pattern

Burning epigastric pain relieved by food, worse at night; weight gain common.

Gastric Ulcer Pain Pattern

Epigastric pain exacerbated by eating; weight loss common.

Celiac Disease

Immune-mediated gluten sensitivity with villous atrophy, IgA anti-tTG antibodies, and dermatitis herpetiformis.

Dermatitis Herpetiformis

Pruritic IgA vesicles on extensor surfaces associated with celiac disease.

Tropical Sprue

Malabsorption with villous atrophy in residents/travelers of tropics; responds to antibiotics.

Whipple Disease

Systemic infection by Tropheryma whipplei causing PAS-positive macrophages, malabsorption, and arthritis.

Hirschsprung Disease

Congenital absence of enteric ganglia in rectosigmoid leading to functional obstruction and megacolon.

Megacolon (Toxic)

Acute colonic dilation with systemic toxicity, classically a complication of ulcerative colitis or C. difficile colitis.

Crohn Disease

Transmural granulomatous IBD with skip lesions, cobblestoning, fistulas, and creeping fat—any GI segment.

Skip Lesion

Patchy segmental involvement characteristic of Crohn disease.

Cobblestone Mucosa

Irregular ulcerated mucosa separated by edematous islands seen in Crohn disease.

Ulcerative Colitis

Continuous mucosal inflammation starting at rectum, forming pseudopolyps; risk of carcinoma and toxic megacolon.

Pseudopolyp

Islands of regenerating mucosa projecting into ulcerated lumen, typical of ulcerative colitis.

Diverticulosis

Multiple false diverticula of sigmoid colon due to high intraluminal pressure; often asymptomatic.

Diverticulitis

Inflamed obstructed diverticulum causing LLQ pain, fever, and risk of perforation or fistula.

Meckel Diverticulum

True ileal diverticulum from vitelline duct persistence; rule of 2s (2% population, 2 in, 2 ft from valve, etc.).

Volvulus

Twisting of bowel loop on mesentery leading to obstruction and ischemia; sigmoid most common.

Intussusception

Telescoping of proximal bowel into distal segment causing obstruction and ‘currant-jelly’ stool.

Adhesion

Fibrous band after surgery or peritonitis causing small-bowel obstruction (most common U.S. cause).

Hernia (Incarcerated/Strangulated)

Protrusion of peritoneal sac through abdominal wall defect; may trap bowel and compromise blood flow.

Acute Pancreatitis

Autodigestion of pancreas by activated enzymes; caused by gallstones, alcohol, hypertriglyceridemia, etc.

Chronic Pancreatitis

Progressive fibrosis and calcification of pancreas causing steatorrhea, diabetes, and pain.

Pancreatic Pseudocyst

Encapsulated collection of necrotic debris and fluid lacking true epithelium following pancreatitis.

Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

Aggressive malignancy (often head) causing painless obstructive jaundice; linked to smoking and chronic pancreatitis.

Courvoisier Sign

Palpable nontender gallbladder with jaundice suggestive of pancreatic head carcinoma.

Insulinoma

Islet-cell tumor secreting insulin, presenting with hypoglycemia; usually benign.

Peritonitis

Inflammation of peritoneum due to infection or chemical irritation; causes acute abdomen.

Ascites

Accumulation of peritoneal fluid from portal hypertension or hypoalbuminemia.

Cirrhosis

End-stage liver fibrosis with regenerative nodules disrupting architecture and function.

Portal Hypertension

Elevated portal venous pressure leading to varices, splenomegaly, ascites, and caput medusae.

Spider Angioma

Dilated superficial arteriole with radiating vessels on skin, related to hyper-estrogenemia in liver failure.

Asterixis

Flapping tremor of hands seen in hepatic encephalopathy.

Hepatorenal Syndrome

Functional renal failure in advanced liver disease due to renal vasoconstriction.

Cholestasis

Impaired bile flow causing retention of bile salts, bilirubin, and cholesterol with pruritus and fat-soluble vitamin loss.

Gamma-Glutamyl Transpeptidase (GGT)

Liver enzyme elevated in cholestasis and alcohol-induced microsomal induction; parallels ALP of hepatic origin.

Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP)

Enzyme from bile canalicular membrane; markedly elevated in biliary obstruction or cholestasis.