Barrett's Esophagus Case

Surface mucous cells are the protective epithelial cells that line the surface of the stomach including the gastric pits. The function of the surface mucous cells is to serve as a physical and chemical barrier. The surface mucous cells secretes a bicarbonate-rich mucus that forms a thick gel-like coat that adheres to the surface epithelium and protects the gastric tissue from abrasion and the acid content of the stomach (The Stomach, n.d.).

Esophageal carcinoma, the eighth most common cancer in the world, includes squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma (Sun, Lin, Chen, Liang, &Hsieh, 2015; American Cancer Society, 2015). Squamous cell carcinoma is simply damaged esophageal cells; however, adenocarcinoma occurs when glandular cells replace squamous cells in the esophagus (American Cancer Society, 2015). While squamous cell carcinoma was once the most common form of esophageal carcinoma in the United States, adenocarcinoma has taken its place with speculation placed towards the increase of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) (Baldwin, 2015). These two manifestations of cancer account for approximately 90% of diagnosed esophageal cancers, while the remaining 10% of esophageal

Epithelial tissue covers body surfaces and lines body cavities. The three main kinds of Epithelial tissue are squamous which is composed of flat cells, cuboidal, which is composed of cube-shaped cells, and columnar which is composed of stretched, pillar-like cells. Each type of epithelial tissue can be either simple or stratified. Simple is one layer of cells, while stratified has more than one layer. Each type can also be glandular. Glands can be either one epithelial cell or multiple cells. Its purpose is to secrete products into different parts of the body or outside of the body. Exocrine glands secrete their products into ducts or directly into a tube/cavity. Endocrine glands secrete their products directly into the bloodstream. Examples of epithelial tissue are the linings of lungs, kidneys, small intestine, and the nose. A common trait that all epithelial tissue have is that they are attached to the basement membrane, a thin layer of proteins that anchors to connective

Prolonged exposure to acidic refluxate can erode the mucosa of the oesophagus, promoting inflammatory cell infiltrate and finally causing necrosis of the epithelial cells (Johnston, 2015). The native squamous cell epithelium is injured and is repaired. In some cases the squamous cell epithelium is replaced by columnar epithelium in a metaplastic process which is most likely an adaptative response. This columnar epithelium is more tolerant of low pH. The altered tissue resembles intestinal epithelium as it often contains intestinal crypts and goblet cells (Mondiano, 2007).

A review of his medical records indicates that he had decided to not undergo chemotherapy or radiation therapy for his cancer. He also suffers from chronic stable HTN, Chronic gout and chronic Barrett’s esophagitis and crohn disease.

Because barium swallows are non-invasive and clearly outline the shape of the esophagus, the radiologist decided this form of imaging was best suited to the patient and his clinical details which strongly suggested cancer to be the cause of the clinical details.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), commonly known as acid reflux disease, is a disorder in which the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) does not completely close and the stomach contents, including the acid, leak back, into the esophagus. The LES is a ring of muscle at the bottom of the esophagus that acts like a valve between the esophagus and the stomach. Your stomach is filled with acid and its main purpose is to digest the foods you eat. This acid is known to be as strong as battery acid, which your stomach was built to handle, but unfortunately your, esophagus was not. This backflow of stomach acid can irritate and sometimes damage the lining of the esophagus. If it is not controlled, acid reflux or GERD can result in serious problems,

Submucosa; is a connective tissue layer that lies just bellow the mucosa. It contains many blood vessels, lymphatic vessels and nerves.

The last test that can be given to diagnose GERD is a test to measure the movement of the esophagus (esophageal motility testing) it measures the movement and pressure in the esophagus. Surgery may be used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms that have not been well controlled by medicines. It may be an option when medicines do not completely relieve symptoms, when a person is not capable of taking medicines, when such problems like asthma, coughing hoarseness, or reflux itself does not improve. Some types of surgeries include: fundoplication - the most common surgery used to treat GERDs, esophagus and stomach - to keep acid from backing up into the esophagus as easily, partial fundoplication - wrapping of the stomach halfway, full fundoplication - wrapping the stomach all around the esophagus so that it completely encircles it, Gastropexy - attaches the stomach to the diaphragm so that the stomach cannot move through the opening in the diaphragm into the chest. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is a chronic condition and is a lifetime disease. Treatment includes taking prescribed medications as instructed, avoiding spicy and fatty

First, having gastro-esophageal reflux disease, this involves the stomach acids traveling back into the lower part of the esophagus and slowly deteriorating the muscle lining of the lower third of the esophagus. Therefore, gastro-esophageal reflux disease mostly causes the adenocarcinoma. Other causes may be smoking tobacco, drinking excessive alcohol, obesity, lack of fruit and vegetables in your diet. In order to lower your chances of getting esophageal cancer, you can eat more green and yellow vegetables, and perhaps a little coffee. The main thing is to live a healthy lifestyle.

Gastroesophageal reflux is the most common gastrointestinal disorder of the western world. Gallup poles have elucidated that approximately 44 % of the adult population in the U.S. has some abnormal reflux of acidic gastric juices into the esophagus on a monthly basis. Roughly 10% of patients require daily acid suppression medication for relief of symptoms. GERD accounts for over 1.0 million out patient visits to physicians every year! Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) does not close properly, and stomach contents splash back, or reflux, into the esophagus. The LES is a ring of muscle located at the far end of the esophagus as

The nostrils and nasal hairs, nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, oral cavity, larynx, pharynx and the epiglottis are all part of the upper respiratory tract. The upper respiratory tract is responsible for the conduction, filtering, protection, warming and moistening of air for inspiration. The tissues found in the upper tract of the respiratory system are stratified squamous cells, pseudostratified ciliated columnar cells, and there are also mucosa (goblet cells). The goblet cells produce the mucus required for capture and expulsion of foreign materials. This is achieved by trapping the foreign particles in the mucus which the cilia move towards the pharynx where it is either coughed up or swallowed, keeping the conduction pathway mostly free of unwanted matter. The epiglottis at the top of the larynx is an important structure in the respiratory system as during swallowing the epiglottis closes over the trachea preventing food/drink/mucus/saliva into the airways. Once swallowing is complete the epiglottis flap relaxes allowing air to flow freely into the lower section of the respiratory system through the multiple layers of c-shaped cartilage structure called the trachea. The c-shaped cartilage is to prevent the airways from collapsing. The

Gastro-oesophageal reflux disorder (GORD) is a common medical condition, which results in an abnormal reflux of gastric contents into the oesophagus1. GORD normally occurs because of the ring of muscle at the bottom of the oesophagus weakening2. The most common symptoms of GORD include heartburn and regurgitation. In this clinical trial, participants have non-erosive GORD, which does not have any visible oesophageal injury1, however non-erosive GORD can progress to erosive disease in susceptible patients3.

Which of the following major layers of the digestive tract is described as a layer of dense irregular connective tissue filled with blood vessels and the plexus of Meissner?

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common illness affecting approximately 20-40% of adults.1 The symptoms of GERD vary considerably in severity and are primarily caused by highly acidic gastric juice from the stomach ascending into the esophagus.1 Frequent episodes of GERD are strongly associated with Barrett’s esophagus (BE), a condition caused by the metaplastic transformation of normal squamous epithelial cells to columnar epithelial cells in the lower esophagus.2 Although BE is considered premalignant, the risk of developing the deadly esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) increases nearly 40 times in patients with BE lesions.2 PubMed database searches were screened to