Gastrointestinal Oncology is an expanding field with important medical, scientific, socio-political and ethical challenges. In the last few years, the discipline has undergone changes in our knowledge of tumour biology, diagnosis and treatment. The rate of progress in some gastrointestinal malignancies as oesophageal adenocarcinoma or malignancies of the rectum is dramatic, in other malignancies as pancreatic carcinoma or not. It is generally accepted that the management of these tumours deserves a multidisciplinary approach. Our current understanding of the management of these tumours is the specific focus of this two-day interdisciplinary Postgraduate Course.

Every year the world's leading specialists in gastroenterology meet to discuss the latest clinical and therapeutic progress in their area of expertise. The theme chosen for the 2004 conference, which was held in Prague on 25 and 26 September was "Recent Progress in the Treatment of Benign Gastro-intestinal Disorders". The 2004 publication will cover five topics: the oesophagus, bile and pancreatic disorders, basic principles of gastrointestinal disorders, stomach upsets in medical practice and gastrointestinal infections.