Few clinical disciplines have been transformed so dramatically by advancements in science and technology as gastrointestinal surgery. To begin with, modern ph- macology has virtually eliminated some kinds of surgery altogether. If one were to take a peek at a typical operating room schedule in a busy hospital of the 1960s, gastrectomies of one kind or another would have constituted a large block of the major surgeries. The advent of effective H2-histamine receptor antagonists and, more + + recently, the H, K -ATPase (proton pump) inhibitors led to a precipitous decline in those procedures such that they are rarely performed today. Exciting new approaches to treating inflammatory bowel diseases and their complications-such as fistulas- with anticytokine therapy may one day have a similarly profound effect on surgery for this condition as well. Beyond pharmaceutics, advances in imaging techniques have greatly facilitated the identification and characterization of pathology in the gastrointestinal tract in a way that would have been unimaginable only a few years ago. Just to visualize the pancreas in some way was a horrendous task until abdominal ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, or computer tomography made it simple. The fact that the gut is a hollow organ that can be accessed through the mouth, anus, or even through the wall of the abdomen has been fully exploited with fiberoptic endoscopes that can bend around corners with ease and permit surgery to be conducted through them.

In Cancer Screening: A Practical Guide for Physicians, a panel of highly experienced clinicians and researchers from around the world present their up-to-date screening techniques for a wide variety of cancers. The techniques range from screening for breast, gynecological, and gastrointestinal cancers, to testing for urogenital, dermatological, and respiratory cancers. In addition to providing the busy practitioner with quick access to guidelines for particular cancers, the epidemiology and biology of the various cancers, as well as the sensitivity and specificity of the methods, are discussed in detail. Authoritative and physician-friendly, Cancer Screening: A Practical Guide for Physicians offers to all internists, oncologists, various subspecialists, and primary care physicians a concise practical review of cancer screening designed specifically for daily use in the consulting room.

A concise, practical guide to the diagnosis and treatment of liver disease. Authoritative and practical, this important new book not only spells out the advantages and limitations of the latest diagnostic tests, but also provides numerous algorithms for evaluating patients and treating the liver problems commonly encountered by primary care physicians. Here, too, the reader will find described the nuances of serological tests for the detection of viral infections and how best to use invasive and noninvasive radiological tests in specific circumstances. Common complications are fully discussed and detailed practical information is given on how to recognize the patient's immediate problems and deal with them effectively. This book's numerous diagrams, clinical "pearls," and cost comparisons will clarify the often complex and bewildering array of conditions associated with liver disease and make it a definitive and indispensable guide for primary care physicians, medical students, and residents.

Chronic viral hepatitis affect hundreds of millions of people worldwide, and each year millions more people become infected. In Chronic Viral Hepatitis, Second Edition, a panel of distinguished clinicians and clinical investigators build upon the first edition by comprehensively reviewing all the relevant new information regarding resistance, side effects, and therapies for chronic viral hepatitis. The text covers recent advances in the understanding of pathogenesis of viral hepatitis while discussing promising agents in development for its treatment. The authors devote special attention to reactivation of hepatitis B with chemotherapy and immunosuppression, herbal and non-traditional therapies, chronic viral hepatitis in the pediatric population, and immunology and immunotherapy of HCV and provide relative costs for all diagnostic and therapeutic options. Authoritative and up-to-date, Chronic Viral Hepatitis, Second Edition offers today's gastroenterologists, internists, hepatologists, and infectious disease specialists a practical guide to the recognition, diagnosis and treatment of chronic viral hepatitis from a multidisciplinary approach.

Chronic viral hepatitis affect hundreds of millions of people worldwide, and each year millions more people become infected. In Chronic Viral Hepatitis, Second Edition, a panel of distinguished clinicians and clinical investigators build upon the first edition by comprehensively reviewing all the relevant new information regarding resistance, side effects, and therapies for chronic viral hepatitis. The text covers recent advances in the understanding of pathogenesis of viral hepatitis while discussing promising agents in development for its treatment. The authors devote special attention to reactivation of hepatitis B with chemotherapy and immunosuppression, herbal and non-traditional therapies, chronic viral hepatitis in the pediatric population, and immunology and immunotherapy of HCV and provide relative costs for all diagnostic and therapeutic options. Authoritative and up-to-date, Chronic Viral Hepatitis, Second Edition offers today's gastroenterologists, internists, hepatologists, and infectious disease specialists a practical guide to the recognition, diagnosis and treatment of chronic viral hepatitis from a multidisciplinary approach.

Few clinical disciplines have been transformed so dramatically by advancements in science and technology as gastrointestinal surgery. To begin with, modern ph- macology has virtually eliminated some kinds of surgery altogether. If one were to take a peek at a typical operating room schedule in a busy hospital of the 1960s, gastrectomies of one kind or another would have constituted a large block of the major surgeries. The advent of effective H2-histamine receptor antagonists and, more ] + recently, the H, K -ATPase (proton pump) inhibitors led to a precipitous decline in those procedures such that they are rarely performed today. Exciting new approaches to treating inflammatory bowel diseases and their complications-such as fistulas- with anticytokine therapy may one day have a similarly profound effect on surgery for this condition as well. Beyond pharmaceutics, advances in imaging techniques have greatly facilitated the identification and characterization of pathology in the gastrointestinal tract in a way that would have been unimaginable only a few years ago. Just to visualize the pancreas in some way was a horrendous task until abdominal ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, or computer tomography made it simple. The fact that the gut is a hollow organ that can be accessed through the mouth, anus, or even through the wall of the abdomen has been fully exploited with fiberoptic endoscopes that can bend around corners with ease and permit surgery to be conducted through them.

This book provides a concise, state-of-the-art overview of occult GI bleeding. The text reviews the epidemiology, screening and detection methods for localization, and prominent treatment strategies for occult GI bleeding. It also features a dedicated section on special patient populations including children, premenopausal women, older adults, and patients with other predisposing, and complicating medical conditions. This volume is supplemented with numerous color illustrations, photographs, and table, and is one of the few dedicated resources on occult GI bleeding. Written by experts in the field, Management of Occult GI Bleeding: A Clinical Guide is a valuable resource for clinicians, practitioners, and students who are involved in the treatment of patients with occult GI bleeding.

Atlas of Dermatological Manifestations of Gastrointestinal Disease provides a comprehensive compendium of digestive tract diseases with dermatological manifestations. The work is arranged by digestive symptoms, with sections based on the specific digestive disease etiology. Each section contains paired chapters of text, one on gastrointestinal manifestations and the other on dermatological manifestations. The atlas includes clinical presentations, pathophysiology, differential diagnosis, diagnostic tests/procedures, pathology, and references presented with substantial numbers of images. Concise and easy to use, Atlas of Dermatological Manifestations of Gastrointestinal Disease is an important resource for gastroenterologists, dermatologists, and internists alike in the treatment of digestive tract diseases.

A concise, practical guide to the diagnosis and treatment of liver disease. Authoritative and practical, this important new book not only spells out the advantages and limitations of the latest diagnostic tests, but also provides numerous algorithms for evaluating patients and treating the liver problems commonly encountered by primary care physicians. Here, too, the reader will find described the nuances of serological tests for the detection of viral infections and how best to use invasive and noninvasive radiological tests in specific circumstances. Common complications are fully discussed and detailed practical information is given on how to recognize the patient's immediate problems and deal with them effectively. This book's numerous diagrams, clinical "pearls", and cost comparisons will clarify the often complex and bewildering array of conditions associated with liver disease and make it a definitive and indispensable guide for primary care physicians, medical students, and residents.