NEET MDS Lessons
General Pathology
ESOPHAGUS Pathology
Congenital malformations
1. A tracheoesophageal fistula (the most prevalent esophageal anomaly) occurs most commonly as an upper esophageal blind pouch with a fistula between the lower segment of the esophagus and the trachea. It is associated with hydramnios, congenital heart disease, and other gastrointestinal malformation.
2. Esophageal atresia is associated with VATER syndrome (vertebra1 defects, anal atresia, tracheoesophageal fistula, and renal dysplasia)
3. Stenosis refers to a narrowed esophagus with a small lumen. lt may be congenital or acquired, e.g., through trauma or inflammation.
Inflammatory disorders
Esophagitis
most often involves the lower half of the esophagus. Caused by the reflux of gastric contents (juices) into the lower esophagus. One of the most common GI disorders.
Clinical features.
Patients experience substernal burning associated with regurgitation, mild anemia, dysphagia, hematemesis, and melena. Esophagitis may predispose to esophageal cancer.
Etiology
- Reflux esophagitis is due to an incompetent lower esophageal sphincter that permits reflux of gastric juice into the lower esophagus.
- Irritants such as citric acid, hot liquids, alcohol, smoking, corrosive chemicals, and certain drugs, such as tetracycline, may provoke inflammation.
- Infectious etiologies include herpes, CMV, and C. albicans. The immunocompromised host is particularly susceptible to infectious esophagitis.
Although chronic or severe reflux disease is uncommon, consequences of these conditions can lead to Barrett’s esophagus, development of a stricture, or hemorrhage.
Pathology
-Grossly, there is hyperemia, edema, inflammation, and superficial necrosis.
Complications include ulceration, bleeding, stenosis, and squamous carcinoma.
Treatment: diet control, antacids, and medications that decrease the production of gastric acid (e.g., H blockers).
Barrett's esophagus,
gastric or intestinal columnar epithelium replaces normal squamous epithelium in response to chronic reflux.- A complication of chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease.
- Histologic findings include the replacement of squamous epithelium with metaplastic columnar epithelium.
- Complications include increased incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma, stricture formation, or hemorrhage (ulceration).
Motor disorders.
Normal motor function requires effective peristalsis and relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter.
Achalasia is a lack of relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), which may be associated with aperistalsis of the esophagus and increased basal tone of the LES.
Clinical features. Achalasia occurs most commonly between the ages of 30 and 50. Typical symptoms are dysphagia, regurgitation, aspiration, and chest pain. The lack of motility promotes stagnation and predisposes to carcinoma.
Hiatal hernia is the herniation of the abdominal esophagus, the stomach, or both, through the esophageal hiatus in the diaphragm.
Scleroderma is a collagen vascular disease, seen primarily in women, that causes subcutaneous fibrosis and widespread degenerative changes. (A mild variant is known as CREST syndrome which stands for calcinosis. raynaud's phenomenon , esophageal dysfunction, sclerodactyly and telengectseia. esophagus is the most frequently involved region of the gastrointestinal tract.
Clinical features are mainly dysphagia and heartburn due to reflux oesophagitis caused by aperlistalsis and incompetent LES.
Rings and webs
1. Webs are mucosal folds in the upper esophagus above the aortic arch.
2. Schatzki rings are mucosal rings at the squamocolumnarjunction below the aortic arch.
3. Plummer Vinson Syndrome consist of triad of dysphagia, atrophic glossitis, and anemia. Webs are found in the upper esophagus. The syndrome is associated specifically with iron deficiency anemia and sometimes hypochlorhydria. Patients are at increased risk for carcinoma of the pharynx or esophagus.
Mallory-Weiss syndrome
Mallory-Weiss tears refers to small mucosal tears at the gastroesophageal junction secondary to recurrent forceful vomiting. The tears occur along the long axis an result in hematemesis (sometimes massive).
- Characterized by lacerations (tears) in the esophagus.
- Most commonly occurs from vomiting (alcoholics).
- A related condition, known as Boerhaave syndrome, occurs when the esophagus ruptures, causing massive upper GI hemorrhage.
Esophageal varices
- The formation of varices (collateral channels) occurs from portal hypertension.
Causes of portal hypertension include blockage of the portal vein or liver disease (cirrhosis).
- Rupture of esophageal varices results in massive hemorrhage into the esophagus and hematemesis.
- Common in patients with liver cirrhosis.
Diverticula
are sac-like protrusions of one or more layers of pharyngeal or esophageal wall.
Tumors
- Benign tumors are rare.
- Carcinoma of the esophagus most commonly occurs after 50 and has a male:female ratio of 4.1.
Etiology: alcohal ingestion, smoking, nitrosamines in food, achalasia , web ring, Barrettes esophagus, and deficiencies of vitamins A and C , riboflavin, and some trace minerals
Clinical features include dysphagia (first to solids), retrosternal pain, anorexia, weight loss, melena, and symptoms secondary to metastases.
Pathology
- 50% occur in the middle third of the esophagus, 30% in the lower third, and 20% in the upper third. Most esophageal cancers are squamous cell carcinomas.
Adenocarcinomas arise mostly out of Barrett's esophagus.
Prognosis
is poor. Fewer than 10% of patients survive 5 years, usually because diagnosis is made at a late stage. The most common sites of metastasis are the liver and lung. The combination of cigarette smoking and alcohol is particularly causative for esophageal cancer (over l00% risk compared to nondrinkers/nonsmokers).
NEOPLASIA
An abnormal. growth, in excess of and uncoordinated with normal tissues Which persists in the same excessive manner after cessation of the stimuli which evoked the change.
Tumours are broadly divided by their behaviors into 2 main groups, benign and malignant.
|
Features |
Benign |
Malignant |
|
General Rate of growth Mode of growth |
Slow Expansile |
Rapid Infiltrative |
|
Gross Margins
Haemoeehage |
Circumscribed often Encapsulated Rare |
III defined
Common |
|
Microscopic Arrangement Cells
Nucleus Mitosis |
Resemble Parent Tissues Regular and uniform in shape and size Resembles parent Cells Absent or scanty |
Varying degrees of structural differentiation Cellular pleomorphism
Hyper chromatic large and varying in shape and size Numerous and abnormal |
Through most tumours can be classified in the benign or malignant category . Some exhibits an intermediate behaviours.
CLASSIFICATION
|
Origin |
Benign |
Malignant |
|
Epithelial Surface epithelium Glandular epithelium Melanocytes |
Papilloma Adenoma Naevus |
Carcinoma Adenoca cinoma Melanocarcinoma(Melanoma) |
|
Mesenchymal
Adipose tissue Fibrous tissue Smooth tissue Striated muscle Cartilage Bone Blood vessels Lymphoid tissue |
Lipoma Fibroma Leiomyoma Rhabdomyoma Chondroma Osteoma Angioma
|
Liposarcoma Fibrosarcoma Leimyosarcoma Chondrosarcoma Osteosarcoma Angiosarcoma Lymphoma |
Some tumours can not be clearly categorized in the above table e.g.
- Mixed tumours like fibroadenoma of the breast which is a neoplastic proliferation of both epithelial and mesenchmal tissues.
- Teratomas which are tumours from germ cells (in the glands) and totipotent cells
(in extra gonodal sites like mediastinun, retroperitoneum and presacral region). These are composed of multiple tissues indicative of differentiation into the derivatives of the three germinal layers.
- Hamartomas which are malformations consisting of a haphazard mass of tissue normally present at that site.
Infections caused by N. meningiditis
1. Bacteremia without sepsis. Organism spreads to blood but no major reaction.
2. Meningococcemia without meningitis. Fever, headache, petechia, hypotension, disseminated intravascular coagulation. The Waterhouse-Friderichsen Syndrome is a rapid, progressive meningococcemia with shock, organ failure, adrenal necrosis, and death.
3. Meningitis with meningococcemia. Sudden onset fever, chills, headache, confusion, nuchal rigidity. This occurs rapidly.
4. Meningoencephalitis. Patients are deeply comatose.
Diagnosis made by examining CSF.
ANAEMIA
Definition. Reduction of the hemoglobin level below the normal for the age and sex of the patient
Classification
1. Blood loss anaemia:
- Acute.
- Chronic (results in iron deficiency).
2. Deficiency anaemia:
- Iron deficiency.
- Megaloblastic anaemia-BI2 and Folic acid deficiency.
- Protein deficiency.
- Scurvy-Vitamin C deficiency.
3. Marrow dysfunction:
- Aplastic anaemia.
- Marrow infiltration.
- Liver failure.
- Renal failure.
- Collagen diseases.
4 Increased destruction (Heamolysis)
- Due to corpuscular defects.
- Due to extra corpuscular defects
Multiple sclerosis
a. A demyelinating disease that primarily affects myelin (i.e. white matter). This affects the conduction of electrical impulses along the axons of nerves. Areas of demyelination are known as plaques.
b. The most common demyelinating disease.
c. Onset of disease usually occurs between ages 20 and 50; slightly more common in women.
d. Disease can affect any neuron in the central nervous system, including the brainstem and spinal cord. The optic nerve (vision) is commonly affected.
Cholangitis
Cholangitis is inflammation of the bile ducts.
1. It is usually associated with biliary duct obstruction by gallstones or carcinoma, which leads to infection with enteric organisms. This results in purulent exudation within the bile ducts and bile stasis.
2. Clinically, cholangitis presents with jaundice, fever, chills. leukocytosis, and right upper quadrant pain
LUNG ABSCESS Lung abscess is a localised area of necrosis of lung tissue with suppuration.
It is of 2 types:
- Primary lung abscess that develops in an otherwise normal lung. The commonest cause is aspiration of infected material.
- Secondary lung abscess that develops as a complication of some other disease of the lung or from another site
ETIOPATHOGENESIS.
The microorganisms commonly isolated from the lungs in lung abscess are streptococci, staphylococci and various gram-negative organisms. These are introduced into the lungs from one of the following mechanisms:
1. Aspiration of infected foreign material.
2. Preceding bacterial infection.
3. Bronchial obstruction.
4. Septic embolism.
5. Miscellaneous (i) Infection in pulmonary infarcts, (ii) Amoebic abscesses, (iii) Trauma to the lungs. (iv) Direct extension from a suppurative focus.
Abscesses may be of variable size from a few millimeters to large cavities, 5 to 6 cm in diameter. The cavity often contains exudate. An acute lung abscess is initially surrounded by acute pneumonia and has poorly-defined ragged wall. With passage of time, the abscess becomes chronic and develops fibrous wall.
Microscopic Examination
The characteristic feature is the destruction of lung parenchyma with suppurative exudate in the lung cavity. The cavity is initially surrounded by acute inflammation in the wall but later there is replacement by exudate of lymphocytes, plasma cells and macrophages. In more chronic cases, there is considerable fibroblastic proliferation forming a fibrocollagenic wall.