Gastrointestinal Pathology Quiz

Study Notes

The gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is a hollow tube running from the oral cavity to the anus, with distinct structural and functional regions.
Key functions include motility, secretion, digestion, absorption, and excretion.
GI diseases can be localized (e.g., peptic ulcer) or systemic (e.g., infections leading to GI complications).
Symptoms of GI diseases include abdominal/chest pain, nausea, vomiting, dysphagia, anorexia, diarrhea, constipation, and GI bleeding.
Complications of GI diseases can be acute (dehydration, sepsis, bleeding, perforation) or chronic (malnutrition, malabsorption, obstruction).
Congenital anomalies of the GIT may arise from various influences during gestation, necessitating assessment of other organ systems due to embryological development interconnections.

Esophageal obstruction may be mechanical (e.g., strictures) or functional (e.g., motility disorders).
Causes of esophageal bleeding include lacerations, perforations, and variceal hemorrhages.
Esophagitis can be due to reflux (GERD) or eosinophilic inflammation (EoE).
Barrett esophagus is a precancerous condition associated with chronic GERD.
Esophageal tumors include adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.

Conditions such as gastropathy, acute gastritis, and chronic gastritis can arise from various causes including Helicobacter pylori and autoimmune processes.
Peptic ulcer disease (PUD) represents a significant cause of gastric bleeding.
Non-neoplastic gastric bleeding can occur due to stress or other factors.
Other non-neoplastic conditions include gastritis cystica and hypertrophic gastropathies.
Dysplastic changes and polyps (inflammatory/hyperplastic, fundic gland polyps, adenomas) may also be observed.
Tumors of the stomach include adenocarcinoma, lymphoma, neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), and gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs).

Intestinal obstruction (IO) may result from hernias, adhesions, volvulus, or intussusception.
Ischemic bowel disease leads to compromised blood flow and potential infarction.
Angiodysplasia is characterized by abnormal blood vessel formations in the bowel.
Malabsorption can occur in conditions like cystic fibrosis and celiac disease, often leading to diarrhea.
Infectious enterocolitis can be caused by various pathogens.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional disorder presenting with abdominal pain and altered bowel habits.
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) includes Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, both characterized by chronic inflammation of the GI tract.
Other colitis forms include diversion colitis, microscopic colitis (lymphocytic and collagenous), and graft-versus-host disease.
Diverticular disease results from the formation of diverticula in the colon.
Polyps in the colon can be classified as non-neoplastic or neoplastic.
Colorectal cancer can stem from polyposis syndromes or develop sporadically, with adenocarcinoma being the most common variant.

Common conditions include hemorrhoids, which may cause pain and bleeding.
Anal canal tumors can include various types that necessitate evaluation for management.

Acute appendicitis is a common emergency condition leading to inflammation of the appendix.
Tumors can also occur in the vermiform appendix, though they are less common.

Peritonitis represents inflammation of the peritoneum, often due to infection.
Tumors within the peritoneal cavity can arise from various sources and necessitate diagnostic investigation.