Every gastroenterology condition in the UKMLA Content Map is covered with dedicated SBA questions and full clinical explanations.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Crohn's disease vs ulcerative colitis. Extra-intestinal manifestations, colonoscopy findings, NICE NG129/NG130 management pathways, biologics.
Upper GI Bleeding
Rockford score, peptic ulcer disease, variceal bleeding, endoscopy indications, proton pump inhibitor use, NICE CG141.
Liver Cirrhosis & Portal Hypertension
Child-Pugh score, MELD score, varices, ascites management, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, hepatic encephalopathy.
Acute Pancreatitis
Glasgow criteria, Ranson's score, gallstone vs alcohol aetiology, ERCP indications, complications including pseudocyst and necrosis.
Coeliac Disease
Anti-tTG antibodies, duodenal biopsy with villous atrophy, gluten-free diet, complications including lymphoma and osteoporosis, NICE NG20.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Rome IV criteria, subtypes IBS-C, IBS-D, IBS-M, first-line management, dietary advice, NICE CG61.
Colorectal Cancer
NICE 2-week wait criteria, colonoscopy, CEA, Dukes staging, adjuvant chemotherapy, Lynch syndrome screening.
Peptic Ulcer Disease
H. pylori testing and eradication via triple therapy, NSAID-related ulcers, PPI use, complications including perforation and bleeding.
Hepatitis B & C
Acute vs chronic infection, HBsAg and HBeAg interpretation, antiviral therapy, cirrhosis progression, vaccination.
Oesophageal Conditions
Barrett's oesophagus surveillance, GORD management, achalasia with manometry and Heller myotomy, oesophageal cancer.
Cholecystitis & Biliary Colic
Murphy's sign, ultrasound findings, laparoscopic cholecystectomy timing, ERCP for CBD stones, Charcot's triad.
Haemorrhoids & Anorectal Disease
Grades of haemorrhoids, conservative vs surgical management, anal fissure treated with GTN cream, perianal abscess.
Every gastroenterology question explanation references the relevant NICE guideline.
Corticosteroids for acute flares, azathioprine or mercaptopurine for maintenance, anti-TNF biologics for refractory disease
5-ASA first-line for mild-moderate disease, corticosteroids for acute severe disease, colectomy criteria
Rockford score pre-endoscopy, endoscopy within 24 hours, PPI infusion post-haemostasis
Anti-tTG IgA testing, duodenal biopsy confirmation, strict gluten-free diet, DEXA scan for osteoporosis
Master the IBD distinction first
Crohn's vs UC is one of the most frequently tested topics. Learn the key distinguishing features: distribution, histology, endoscopic appearance, and management differences. This single topic can account for 3 to 5 questions in a sitting.
Learn the scoring systems
The UKMLA AKT tests clinical decision-making. Know the Rockford score for GI bleeding, Glasgow criteria for pancreatitis, Child-Pugh score for cirrhosis, and Rome IV criteria for IBS. These appear in vignette-based questions requiring you to calculate risk and decide management.
Understand the diagnostic pathways
For each condition, know the first-line investigation: anti-tTG for coeliac, OGD for upper GI bleeding, colonoscopy for IBD. UKMLA questions often give investigation results and ask for the diagnosis or next step.
Practise topic-specific question blocks
Do 20 to 30 gastroenterology questions in a single session before moving to the next specialty. This builds systematic knowledge and identifies gaps more efficiently than random question practice.
Review every explanation
Read the full explanation for every gastroenterology question, including those you answered correctly. Understanding why each distractor is wrong is as important as knowing the correct answer.
Gastroenterology is one of the highest-yield specialties in the UKMLA AKT, typically accounting for 10 to 15% of questions. The UKMLA Content Map includes over 35 GI conditions, with IBD, GI bleeding, liver disease, and coeliac disease being the most frequently tested.
The highest-yield UKMLA gastroenterology topics are: inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's vs UC), upper GI bleeding (Rockford score, endoscopy), acute pancreatitis (Glasgow criteria), coeliac disease (anti-tTG, biopsy), and liver cirrhosis (Child-Pugh, complications). These appear in multiple UKMLA sittings.
Key distinguishing features: Crohn's affects any part of the GI tract with skip lesions, transmural inflammation, granulomas, cobblestone mucosa, and RIF pain. UC is limited to the colon with continuous inflammation from the rectum, superficial involvement, crypt abscesses, and bloody diarrhoea. Smoking worsens Crohn's but is protective in UC.
The most important NICE guidelines for UKMLA gastroenterology are: NG129 (Crohn's disease), NG130 (ulcerative colitis), CG141 (upper GI bleeding), NG20 (coeliac disease), and CG61 (IBS). You must know the first-line management and escalation criteria for each.
The most effective approach is: (1) learn the diagnostic criteria for each condition including Rome IV for IBS, Rockford for GI bleeding, Glasgow for pancreatitis, (2) practise SBA questions by topic, (3) review NICE guideline summaries, and (4) understand the endoscopic findings for IBD, Barrett's, and coeliac disease.