a condition in which areas of the esophageal lining are inflamed and ulcerated. 

most common cause is chronic acid reflux. 

corrosive substances, drugs, and some pills (aspirin or NSAIDS, alendronate, doxycycline, tetracycline, large iron and potassium tablets) can cause painful erosions if they lodge in the esophagus. 

diagnosis is via esophagoscopy.

a rare chronic disorder characterized by degenerative changes and scarring in the skin, joints, and internal organs and by blood vessel abnormalities. 

swelling of the fingers, intermittent coolness and blue discoloration of the fingers and joints freezing to permanent usually flexed positions. 

damage to the lungs, heart, kidneys may develop. 

Scleroderma

no treatment changes the course of the disorder. 

Symptoms and organ dysfunction are treated. 

Scleroderma.

X rays taken while the person swallows a barium drink may show that the liquid barium does not move normally down the esophagus and that contractions of the esophageal wall are uncoordinated and do not propel the barium. 

calcium channel blockers such as nifedipine may relax the muscles of the esopahgus. sometimes injecting botulinum toxin into the mucles of the esophagus is helpful. 

long acting nitrates and drugs with anticholinergic effects are not as helpful. 

some people need strong analgesics and sometimes a narrowing is treated via insertion of a baloon or bougies to dialate the esophagus. 

in rare cases the surgeon may cut the muscle layer along the full length of the esophagus. 

this is a disorder in which the rhythmic contractions of the esophagus are greatly decreased, the lower esophageal sphincter does not relax normally, and the resting pressure of the lower esophageal sphincter is increased. 

this results from a malfunction of the nerves controlling rhythmic contractions of the esophagus. The cause of the nerve malfunction is not known, but viral cause is suspected. Tumors can also cause this by constricting the lower esophageal sphincter by infiltrating the nerves. 

Chagas disease , which causes distruction of clusters of nerve cells (autonomic ganglia) may also result in this. 

Chagas disease is due to a parasite causing this disease:

a long standing inflammation of the pancreas that results in irreversable deterioration of pancreatic structure and function.

abdominal pain may be persistent or intermittent.

The diagnosis is usually based on symptoms, but blood tests may be helpful. 

treatment involves allowing the pancreas to REST and taking drugs to relive the pain. 

sudden inflammation of the pancreas that may be mild or life threatening but that usually subsides.

gallstonse or alcohol are the main causes of actue pancreatitis. 

SEVERE abdominal pain is the predminant symtom. 

Blood tests or imaging tests, such as Xrays adn CT, help the doctor make the diagnosis. 

whether mild or severe, this condition requires hospitalization. 

Metastatic Liver cancer

chemotherapy drugs and radiation therapy may help relieve symptoms but do not cure the cancer. 

this is a cancer that spreads to the liver from elsewhere in the body. 

weight loss and poor appetite may be the first symptoms.

Doctors base the diagnosis on symptoms and results of physical exam, sometimes with ultrasonography. 

cirrhosis is the most common cause in western countries. 

Portal Hypertension

abnormally high blood pressure in branches of the portal vein, the large vein that brings blood from the intestine to the liver. 

severe deterioration in liver function

Liver Failure

a large portion of the liver must be damaged before the liver failure occurs. 

this can result from any type of liver disorder, including viral hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver damage from alcohol or drugs such as acetaminophen (TYLENOL).

1. the liver can no longer adequately process bilirubin (a waste product formed when old red blood cells are broken down) to be excreted. the result is jaundice. 

2. the liver can no longer synthesize enough of the proteins that help the blood clot. the result is a tendency to bruise and bleed (coagulopathy).

3. portal hypertension often. It can result in fluid in the abdominal cavity (ascites), hepatic liver encephalopathy, or both.

The stoppage of bile flow or the reduction of bile. 

disorders of the liver, bile duct, or pancreas can cause this. 

the skin and whites of eyes look yellow, the skin itches and the urine is dark. you got foul smellin stools too and dat shit is light colored.

Cholestasis

treatment depends on the cause, but drugs can relieve itching! yea!

a yellowish discoloration of the skin and of the whites of eyes caused by abnormally high levels of pigmentation in the bloodstream. 

liver damage or a blockage of a bile duct can cause this. 

surgery or endoscopy is sometimes needed if the cause of the condition is not resolved.

cirrhosis is the most common disorder that causes this. 

the accumulation of protein containing fluid in the abdominal cavity. 

analysis of fluid can help determine the cause and a low salt diet and bed rest and diuretics help with the excess fluid. 

Ascites.

*if large amounts of fluid accumulates, the abdomen becomes very large, sometimes making people loose their appetite, and feel short of breath. 

common causes are hepatitis B and C and drugs.

many people have no symptoms until the liver is severley scarred. 

it can develop into cirrhosis, with an enlarged spleen, fluid accum. in abdominal cavity, and deterioration of brain function. 

a biopsy is used to confirm diagnosis. 

chronic hepatitis

drugs, such as antiviral drugs or corticosteroids may be used, and for advanced disease liver transplantation. 

symptoms range from none to very severe.

affected people may have poor appetite, nausea, vomiting, fever, pain in the right abdomen, and jaundice.

physical examination and blood samples are taken to analyze. 

Vaccines can help prevent A, B, and E.

collections of solid material (predominatly crystals of cholesterol) in the gallbladder. 

they are more common among women and Amerian Indians. 

Risk factors include: female sex, older age, obestity, a western diet, and a family history of gallstones. 

cholecystitis

classified as actue or chronic

abdominal pain that lasts for more than 6 hours, fever, adn nausea.

ultrasonography detects this inflammation, and usually the gb is removed with laparoscope.

symptoms begin gradually and include worsening fatigue, itchiness, and later, jaundice.

treatment focuses on relieving symptoms, but liver transplantation can prolong life. 

inflammation with progressive scarring and narrowing of the bile ducts and outside the liver. eventually the bile ducts become blocked and then obliterated. 

cirrhosis, liver failure, and sometimes bile duct cancer develop. 

stopping all alcohol intake is critical!

irreversable replacement of a large amount of normal liver tissue with nonfunctioning scar tissue. it developed because yo liver is damaged. attempts at regenerating new liver cells are not effective. 

symptoms, when they occur, include poor appetite, weight loss, feeling weak, sick, and tired.

alcoholism and hepatitis are the most common causes of this. 

diagnosis is based on symptoms, physical examination, blood tests, adn sometimes imaging tests or a biopsy. 

Cirrhosis

stopping all alcohol inake is critical!