Topics for Anatomy and Physiology
Find educational topics for Anatomy and Physiology aligned with the Zambian tertiary curriculum.
Hepatocellular Carcinoma
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Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver cancer, the third leading cause of cancer death worldwide, and a MAJOR ONCOLOGICAL PROBLEM IN ZAMBIA, driven by high prevalence of chronic hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV), and increasing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)/alcoholic liver disease (ALD)-related cirrhosis. For Zambian …
Hepatorenal Syndrome
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Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is a form of functional renal failure occurring in patients with advanced cirrhosis and ascites, characterized by severe renal vasoconstriction in the setting of systemic vasodilation and normal renal histology. For Zambian students, HRS is a COMMON, OFTEN FATAL complication of decompensated cirrhosis, but EARLY RECOGNITION AND …
Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis
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Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is an infection of ascitic fluid in patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension, in the absence of an intra-abdominal surgically treatable source. It is the MOST COMMON INFECTION in cirrhotic patients, with high mortality (20-40%), and is a MEDICAL EMERGENCY requiring IMMEDIATE DIAGNOSIS AND ANTIBIOTIC THERAPY. …
Portal Hypertension and Variceal Hemorrhage
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Portal hypertension is the hemodynamic abnormality complicating cirrhosis, defined as a hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) >5 mmHg (clinically significant >10 mmHg). It is responsible for the most lethal complications of cirrhosis: VARICEAL HEMORRHAGE, ASCITES, and HEPATIC ENCEPHALOPATHY. For Zambian students, VARICEAL HEMORRHAGE is a MEDICAL EMERGENCY with HIGH MORTALITY …
Hepatic Encephalopathy
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Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a neuropsychiatric syndrome complicating acute or chronic liver failure, characterized by a wide spectrum of cognitive, psychiatric, and motor disturbances, ranging from subtle subclinical deficits to deep coma. For Zambian students, HE is an EXTREMELY COMMON, FREQUENTLY RECURRENT, AND OFTEN STIGMATIZED complication of cirrhosis. EARLY RECOGNITION …
Ascites
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Ascites is the pathological accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity, the MOST COMMON complication of cirrhosis, marking the transition from compensated to decompensated disease. For Zambian students, ascites is a DAILY CLINICAL PROBLEM, with high prevalence of cirrhosis (HBV, alcohol, NAFLD). MASTERY OF ASCITES DIAGNOSIS, MANAGEMENT, AND COMPLICATIONS (SBP, …
Acute Liver Failure
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Acute liver failure (ALF) is a RARE but CATASTROPHIC syndrome characterized by rapid development of hepatocellular dysfunction, coagulopathy (INR ≥1.5), and hepatic encephalopathy in a patient WITHOUT pre-existing cirrhosis or chronic liver disease (onset <26 weeks). For Zambian students, ALF is a MEDICAL EMERGENCY requiring URGENT RECOGNITION, TRANSFER TO TERTIARY …
Choledochal Cysts: Congenital Biliary Dilatation
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Choledochal cysts are rare congenital dilatations of the intrahepatic and/or extrahepatic biliary tree. For Zambian students, recognition is critical—they present in childhood or adulthood with non-specific symptoms, and carry a SIGNIFICANT RISK OF MALIGNANCY (cholangiocarcinoma) if not excised. Todani classification: Type I (80-90%): fusiform/saccular dilatation of common bile duct. Type …
Gallbladder Cancer: The Silent Malignancy
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Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is an aggressive, lethal malignancy with strong geographic and ethnic variation. For Zambian students, GBC is associated with CHRONIC INFLAMMATION: cholelithiasis (large stones >3cm, long-standing), PORCELAIN GALLBLADDER (wall calcification, 10-20% cancer risk), chronic typhoid carriage (S. typhi), and choledochal cysts (Type IV). Adenocarcinoma (90%). Clinical: SILENT, EARLY …