What is Gastroenterology?
Gastroenterology is a medical specialty that involves the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the digestive system. These disorders may affect the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine (colon), rectum, liver, bile ducts, gallbladder and pancreas.
A gastroenterologist is a physician who is trained in both internal medicine and the sub-specialty of gastroenterology.
Gastroenterologists are frequently asked to evaluate the following problems:
- Abdominal pain
- Abdominal bloating
- Anemia/Intestinal bleeding
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Difficulty swallowing
- Gallbladder disease
- Heartburn
- Indigestion
- Liver problems
- Nausea/Vomiting
- Pancreas problems
- Rectal bleeding
Some diseases that are diagnosed and treated by a gastroenterologist include:
- Acid-peptic disease
- Barrett's esophagus
- Biliary disease
- Celiac sprue
- Colon polyps
- Diverticulosis/Diverticulitis
- Gallstones
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Gastrointestinal Cancers
- Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's, Ulcerative Colitis)
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Liver disease/Cirrhosis
- Pancreatic disease
- Peptic ulcer disease
- Small bowel disease
- Viral hepatitis (A/B/C)
Gastroenterologists may perform the following procedures to help make a diagnosis:
- Colonoscopy
- Esophagogastroduodenoscopy/Upper Endoscopy (EGD)
- Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
- Esophageal Manometry/24-hour Ambulatory pH Study
- Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS)
- Flexible Sigmoidoscopy
- Liver Biopsy
