Nephrolithiasis, urolithiasis

Formation of calculi (calcium stones) in the kidney (nephrolithiasis) or urinary tract (urolithiasis).
Commonly associated with hyperparathyroidism.
Signs and symptoms 

urinary tract obstruction, severe pain, and pyelonephritis.

Note: an enlarged prostate can also cause urinary tract obstruction in males.

PRIMARY LYMPHEDEMA  
can occur as:
1- A congenital defect, resulting from lymphatic agenesis or hypoplasia.  

2- Secondary or obstructive lymphedema  
- blockage of a previously normal lymphatic; e.g. Malignant tumors 
- Surgical procedures that remove lymph nodes 
- Postirradiation  
- Fibrosis 
- Filariasis 
- Postinflammatory thrombosis and scarring 

Hyperpituitarism 

Causes  
A. Pituitary; usually anterior lobe

1. Adenoma (the most common cause)
2. Hyperplasia  
3. Carcinoma  

B. Extra-pituitary causes 
1. Hormone producing extra-pituitary tumors (ectopic hormone production)
2. Certain hypothalamic disorders 

Pituitary adenomas are classified according to the hormone(s) produced by the neoplastic cells; these are detected by immunohistochemically-stained tissue sections. Pituitary adenomas can be functional (associated with hormone excess with their related clinical manifestations) or silent. 

Pathogenesis
Guanine nucleotide-binding protein (G-protein) mutations are the best characterized molecular abnormalities. Such mutations eventuate in a persistent increase in intracellular cAMP, which is a potent mitogenic stimulus promoting cellular proliferation and hormone synthesis and secretion. In the setting of MEN-1 syndrome there are mutations in the MEN-1 (menin) gene. 

Gross features

• Adenomas are usually soft & well-circumscribed   
• Larger lesions extend superiorly through the sellar diaphragm compressing the optic chiasm and adjacent structures .  
• Invasive adenomas refer to nonencapsulated tumors that infiltrate adjacent bone, dura, and even brain.

Microscopic features.  

• Adenomas are composed of monomorphic, polygonal cells displayed in sheets, cords, or papillae. Their nuclei may be uniform or pleomorphic but the mitotic activity is scanty. The cytoplasm of the constituent cells may be acidophilic, basophilic, or chromophobic. 
• The connective tissue is scanty that is why many lesions are soft & even gelatinous in consistency.  

Prolactinomas are the most common type of hyperfunctioning pituitary adenoma.
Hyperprolactinemia causes amenorrhea, galactorrhea, loss of libido, and infertility. 

Growth Hormone-Producing Adenomas (somatotroph cell adenomas) are the second most common type of functional pituitary adenoma. Because the clinical manifestations of excessive growth hormone may be subtle, the tumor may be quite large by the time they come to clinical attention. If such tumors occur before closure of epiphyses (prepubertal children), excessive levels of growth hormone result in gigantism. If elevated levels persist, or present after closure of the epiphyses, individuals develop acromegaly. 

Corticotroph Cell Adenomas are mostly small (microadenomas) at the time of diagnosis. They may be clinically silent or cause hypercortisolism referred to as Cushing disease 

Other Anterior Pituitary Neoplasms 
• Gonadotroph adenomas (luteinizing hormone [LH]-producing and follicle-stimulating hormone [FSH]producing)
• Thyrotroph (thyroid-stimulating hormone [TSH]-producing) adenomas 
• Nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas (hormone-negative (null cell) adenomas) Nonfunctioning adenomas constitute approximately 25% of all pituitary tumors; they typically present through their mass effects. 

Haemolytic anaemia 

Anemia due to increased red cell destruction (shortened life span)

Causes:

A. Corpuscular defects:

1.Membrane defects:

    - Spherocytosis.
    - Elliptocytosis.

2. Haemoglobinopathies:

    - Sickle cell anaemia.
    - Thalassaemia
    - Hb-C, HBD, HbE.
    
3. Enzyme defects .deficiency of:

    - GIucose -6 phosphate dehydrogenase (G6-PD)
    - Pyruvate kinase
    
4. Paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria.

B. Extracorpusular mechanisms 

1. Immune based:
    - Autoimmune haemolytic anaemia.
    - Haemolytic disease of new born.
    - Incompatible transfusion.
    - Drug induced haemolysis
    
2. Mechanical haemolytic anaemia.
3. Miscellaneous due to :

    - Drugs and chemicals.
    - Infections.
    - Burns.

features of haemolytic anaemia

- Evidence of increased Hb breakdown:

    -> Unconjugated hyperbilirubinaemia.
    -> Decreased plasma haptoglobin.
    -> Increased urobilinogen and stercobilinogen.
    -> Haemoglobinaemia, haemoglobinuria and haemosiderinuria if Intravascular haemolysis occurs.

- Evidence or compensatory erythroid hyperplasia:

    -> Reticulocytosis and nucleated RBC in peripheral smear.
    -> Polychromasia and macrocytes 
    -> Marrow erythroid hyperplasia
    -> Skull and other bone changes.

- Evidences of damage to RBC:

    -> Spherocytes and increased osmotic fragility
    -> Shortened life span.
    -> Fragmented RBC.
    -> Heinz bodies.
 

INFARCTION

 An infarct is an area of ischemic necrosis caused by occlusion of either the arterial supply or the venous drainage in a particular tissue 

 Nearly 99% of all infarcts result from thrombotic or embolic events 
 
other mechanisms include: local vasospasm, expansion of an atheroma, extrinsic compression of a vessel (e.g., by tumor); vessel twisting (e.g., in testicular torsion or bowel volvulus; and traumatic vessel rupture

MORPHOLOGY OF INFARCTS 

 infarcts may be either red (hemorrhagic) or white (anemic) and may be either septic or aseptic 

 All infarcts tend to be wedge-shaped, with the occluded vessel at the apex and the periphery of the organ forming the base 
 
 The margins of both types of infarcts tend to become better defined with time 
 
 The dominant histological characteristic of infarction is ischemic coagulative necrosis 
 
 most infarcts are ultimately replaced by scar. The brain is an exception, it results in liquefactive necrosis 
 
 RED INFARCTS:
occur in 
(1) venous occlusions (such as in ovarian torsion) 
(2) loose tissues (like lung) that allow blood to collect in the infarcted zone 
(3) tissues with dual circulations (lung and small intestine) 
(4) previously congested tissues because of sluggish venous outflow 
(5) when flow is re-established to a site of previous arterial occlusion and necrosis 

WHITE INFARCTS 

occur with: 
1) arterial occlusions 
2) solid organs (such as heart, spleen, and kidney).

Septic infarctions - occur when bacterial vegetations from a heart valve embolize or when microbes seed an area of necrotic tissue. - the infarct is converted into an abscess, with a correspondingly greater inflammatory response

FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE DEVELOPMENT OF AN INFARCT
- nature of the vascular supply 
- rate of development of the occlusion (collateral circulation ) 
- vulnerability to hypoxia - Neurons undergo irreversible damage 
- 3 to 4 minutes of ischemia. - Myocardial cells die after only 20 to 30 minutes of ischemia 
- the oxygen content of blood
 

STOMACH 
Congenital malformations

1. Pyloric stenosis 

Clinical features. Projectile vomiting 3-4 weeks after birth associated with a palpable "olive" mass in the epigastric region is observed. 
Pathology shows hypertrophy of the muscularis of the pylorus and failure to relax. 

2. Diaphragmatic hernias are due to weakness in or absence of parts of the diaphragm, allowing herniation of the abdominal contents into the thorax. 

Inflammation 

1. Acute gastritis (erosive)

Etiology. Alcohol, aspirin and other NSAIDs, smoking,  shock, steroids, and uremia may all cause disruption of the mucosal barrier, leading to inflammation. 
Clinical features. Patients experience heartburn, epigastric pain, nausea, vomiting, hematemesis, and even melena. 

2. Chronic gastritis (nonerosive) may lead to atrophic mucosa with lymphocytic infiltration. 

Types 

(1) Fundal (Type A) gastritis is often autoimmune in origin.  It is the type associated with pernicious anemia and, therefore, achlorhydria and intrinsic factor deficiency. 
(2) Antral (Type B) gastritis is most commonly caused by Helicobacter pylori and is the most common form of chronic gastritis in the U.S. H. pylori is also responsible for proximal duodenitis in regions of gastric metaplasia.

Clinical features. The patient may be asymptomatic or suffer epigastric pain, nausea, vomiting, and bleeding. Gastritis may predispose to peptic ulcer disease, probably related to  H. pylori infection.

3. Peptic ulcers

Peptic ulcers are usually chronic, isolated ulcers observed in  areas bathed by pepsin and HCI; they are the result of mucosal breakdown

Common locations are the proximal duodenum, the stomach, and the esophagus, often in areas of Barrett's esophagus. 

Etiology. There are several important etiologic factors. 
Duodenal ulcers occur predominantly in patients with excess acid secretion, while gastric ulcers usually occur in patients with lower than average acid secretion. 

Other predisposing conditions include smoking, cirrhosis, pancreatitis, hyperparathyroidism, and H. pylori infection. Aspirin, steroids, and NSAlDs are known to be assoicated with peptic ulcer disease. Next to H. pylori colonization, aspirin or NSAID ingestion is the most common cause of peptic ulcer. 

Clinical features. Patients experience episodic epigastric pain. Duodenal and most gastric ulcers are relieved by food or antacids. Approximately one-fifth of gastric ulcer patients get no relief from eating or experience pain again  within 30 minutes.

Pathology. Benign peptic ulcers are well-circumscribed  lesions with a loss of the mucosa, underlying scarring, and sharp walls. 

Complications include hemorrhage, perforation, obstruction, and pain. Duodenal ulcers do not become malignant .Gastric ulcers do so only rarely; those found to be ma1ignant likely originated as a cancer that ulcerated.

Diagnosis is made by upper gastrointestinal Series , endoscopy, and biopsy to rule out malignancy or to demonstrate the presence of H. pylori. 

4. Stress ulcers 

are superficial mucosal ulcers of the stomach or duodenum or both. Stress may be induced by burns, sepsis shock, trauma, or increased intracranial pressure. 

Tumors 
1. Benign 

a. Leiomyoma, often multiple, is the most common benign neoplasm of the stomach. Clinical features include bleeding, pain, and iron deficiency anemia. 

b. Gastric polyps are due to proliferation of the mucosal epithelium. 

2. Malignant tumors 

a. Carcinoma 

Etiology. Primary factors include genetic predisposition and diet; other factors include hypochlorhydria, pernicious anemia, atrophic gastritis, adenomatous polyps, and exposure to nitrosamines. H. pylori are also implicated. 

Clinical features. Stomach cancer is usually asymptomatic until late, then presents with anorexia, weight loss, anemia, epigastric pain, and melena. Virchow's node is a common site of metastasis. 

Pathology. Symptomatic late gastric carcinoma may be expanding or infiltrative. In both cases the prognosis is poor (approximately 10% 5-year survival), and metastases are frequently present at the time of diagnosis. 
Adenocarcinomas are most common. 

b. Gastrointestinal lymphomas may be primary In the gastrointestinal tract as solitary masses. 

c. Sarcoma is a rare, large, ulcerating mass that extends into the lumen. 

d. Metastatic carcinoma. Krukenberg's tumor is an ovaria metastasis from a gastric carcinoma. 

e. Kaposi's sarcoma. The stomach is the most commonly involved GI organ in Kaposi's sarcoma. It primarily occurs in homosexual men, appearing as hemorrhagic polypoid, umbilicated nodular lesions, typically in a submucosal location. It rarely causes symptoms