Gastrointestinal Malignancies

Gastroenterology doctors work in close collaboration with the Cancer Center at Boston Medical Center to offer patients with these cancers comprehensive, compassionate cancer care. The team of doctors treating patients will include doctors from radiology, gastroenterology, and surgery who will work together to develop each patient’s care plan.

In addition, the team is widely known for their expertise in colorectal cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment. The active program for colon cancer screening offers "open access" colonoscopy screening for average risk individuals, as well as those with blood in the stool or a family history of colorectal cancer. The main screening tests for colorectal cancer, including stool blood testing, flexible sigmoidoscopy, barium enema, and colonoscopy. Genetic counseling is also available for those at risk for developing hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer and familial adenomatous polyposis.

We provide care to patients diagnosed with the following cancers:

• Esophagus
• Stomach
• Colon, rectum, and anus
• Liver
• Gallbladder and bite ducts
• Pancreas
• Sarcomas

Diagnostic Tests

Upper GI Endoscopy

An upper GI endoscopy looks at the upper part of the gastrointestinal tract including the esophagus, the stomach, and the first part of the small intestine, called the duodenum. Gastroenterologists commonly perform this procedure as a way to evaluate and diagnose various problems, such as chronic heartburn (acid reflux), difficulty swallowing, stomach or abdominal pain, bleeding, ulcers, and tumors.

Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS)

Your physician uses an endoscope (a long, flexible tube) with a small ultrasound transducer on the tip to obtain images of the lymph nodes deep in the chest. This instrument is passed into your esophagus. The transducer sends high-frequency sound waves to the organs to create detailed images of them. You should avoid food and drink for at least 6 hours before the procedure, and you will be sedated, so you should not drive or return to work for 24 hours.

Colonoscopy

During a colonoscopy, the gastroenterologist will put a little bit of air into the colon as he/she inserts the colonoscope. The colonoscope has a camera on the end, which helps the physician both guide the colonoscope throughout the length of the colon and take pictures of the colon. Colonoscopies are most commonly performed in colorectal cancer screening and prevention.

Sigmoidoscopy

Sigmoidoscopy is a procedure used to see inside the sigmoid colon and rectum. 

Treatments

Laparoscopic Colectomy with Ileorectal Anastomosis

A laparoscopic colectomy is an operation that removes the large intestine.

Intraluminal Stents

Small mesh tubes that self-dilate and are used to treat narrow or weak arteries.

Radiofrequency Ablation for Cancer

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a cancer treatment in which radiofrequency energy—derived from electric and magnetic energy—is sent by means of a narrow probe that is placed in the center of a lung tumor. Surgical incisions are not required, and the probes are placed into tumors using CT scan to guide the physician. RFA is a newer method of treating lung cancer, as well as cancers of the liver, kidney, and bone. RFA can target and kill cancerous cells sparing healthy tissues that are close to the cancer. Systemic treatments such as chemotherapy and certain types of radiation are absorbed into both healthy and diseased tissue, whereas RFA is delivered directly into a tumor.

Hepatic Resection

Removing a portion of the liver.