Each year, nearly 300,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with a type of gastrointestinal cancer. Many of these cancers are too complex or difficult to be treated with just one type of treatment. The Center for Gastrointestinal Cancers at Smilow Cancer Hospital and Yale Cancer Center provides patients with gastrointestinal cancers a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to the treatment of complex disease. As experts in the treatment of cancers of the esophagus, stomach, liver, pancreas, colon, bile ducts, rectum, and anus, we collaborate with diagnostic and interventional radiologists, gastroenterologists, and pathologists to provide the most up-to-date and effective treatments available. Our advanced diagnostic imaging services, including Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), MRI/MRCP (ERCP in conjunction with MRI), high-resolution CT scans, Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), and EUS-guided fine needle aspiration, allow for patients to be comprehensively evaluated at the onset of their diagnosis. Surgical Oncology Surgery is commonly used to effectively manage certain types of gastrointestinal cancers, including malignant and premalignant tumors in the stomach, liver, bile ducts, pancreas, small intestine, and colorectum. Our team of surgeons incorporate a variety of state-of-the-art surgical techniques into procedures when necessary. These include: Laparoscopic and robotic surgery for stomach, small bowel, and colorectal tumors, as well as for primary and metastatic liver tumors and biliary tumors Cytoreduction and heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy Pancreatectomy (Whipple procedure, distal pancreatectomy, total pancreatectomy, central pancreatectomy, pancreas preserving enucleation) Medical Oncology In addition to chemotherapy, our medical oncology experts provide innovative nonsurgical treatment options including: Targeted Therapy, in which a special type of chemotherapy targets the changes in cancer cells that help them grow, divide, and spread Immunotherapy, which uses a patient’s own immune system to find and destroy cancer cells Yale Cancer Center emphasizes the importance of clinical trials for all stages of disease. Many of these drugs are exploring new types of therapy and new combinations of therapies, and many of our studies are available as part of our network of Care Centers. We perform state-of-the-art genomic profiling and laboratory explorations to determine the biologic weaknesses of the tumors and to develop better therapies for patients. Radiation Oncology Patients who need radiation oncology to treat their gastrointestinal cancers can feel confident that they are receiving the highest quality care from the most experienced team of radiation oncologists in Connecticut. We offer innovative therapies including: Three-dimensional Conformal Radiation: This technique may be used to target radiation to tumors by matching their particular shapes. Four-dimensional (4-D) CT simulation makes CT scans f

The team of gastrointestinal & liver pathologists at Yale is dedicated to providing state-of-the-art diagnostic services for the following disorders: Barrett’s esophagus Chronic hepatitis Cirrhosis Colorectal polyps and cancer Gastroesophageal reflux, Helicobacter pylori gastritis Hepatocellular carcinoma Inflammatory bowel disease Stomach cancer Diseases of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract are some of the most common human disorders. Almost everyone experiences some form of a GI ailment at least once during their lifetime. The common disorders include gastroesophageal reflux and Barrett’s esophagus; gastroenteritides including inflammatory bowel disease; gastritides including helicobacter gastritis; hepatitides including viral hepatitis B and C; fatty liver disease; pancreatitis; and cancers of the large bowel, pancreas, and liver. The team consists of gastrointestinal pathologists who are fellowship-trained and who are experts in the field, with national and international recognition. Our faculty is committed to providing the best possible clinical care in a timely fashion, and being at the forefront of academic medicine. All our pathologists are engaged in clinical and translational research related to gastrointestinal disorders. We see about 15,000 cases each year pertaining to the gastrointestinal tract, which include diagnostic biopsies, explants, and resections. Being a tertiary care medical center, we see a high proportion of complex and rare cases, and frequently receive cases from other institutions within and outside the country for our expert opinion. The service strives for clinical and academic excellence. We are committed to provide outstanding and timely clinical care— more than 90% of all diagnostic biopsies are signed out within 24 hours after arriving in the laboratory. We frequently interact with the clinical care providers to discuss complex clinical cases and believe in a team-based approach. The division is well-supported by an excellent histopathology laboratory and technical staff, and has a state-of-the-art electron microscopy lab, molecular diagnostic lab, immunohistochemistry lab, and medical informatics. We offer all advanced ancillary tests required for the management of GI disorders, including molecular profiling of tumors and genomics.

Our team works closely with colleagues in the departments of surgery, diagnostic radiology, laboratory medicine, and pathology to provide state-of-the-art diagnosis and treatment of digestive diseases in a coordinated and comprehensive manner. Our diagnostic clinics offer both routine and specialized endoscopic and nonendoscopic procedures. Our highly skilled and highly trained gastroenterologists offer several specialized programs: Our Advanced Endoscopy Program focuses on diseases of the pancreas, biliary tract, and gastrointestinal tract. We evaluate patients with a variety of symptoms and diseases, many of whom require complex endoscopic procedures using specialized techniques and equipment. Our Inflammatory Bowel Disease Program focuses on helping patients who suffer from Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Our specialists can treat these complex, lifelong inflammatory diseases through our dedicated program focused on clinical care, patient education, and research. Our Gastrointestinal Motility Program brings together a team of gastroenterologists, surgeons, pathologists, and radiologists to provide the latest diagnostic and treatment services to patients with hard-to-diagnose gastrointestinal disorders. Services offered by Yale Medicine Gastroenterology include: Cancer screening, including colonoscopy and upper endoscopy Diagnosis and management of Irritable bowel syndrome Nutrition evaluation and treatment Diagnosis and management of GI bleeding, including reflux disease, gastritis, ulcers, and portal hypertension Treatment of chronic diarrhea and disorders of malabsorption Evaluations for women's gastroenterological issues Video capsule endoscopy