Gastro—obviously: That must have something to do with the stomach. In fact, the ancient Greeks called the stomach “gaster.” From gastronomy to gastritis, the word comes up often.
Gastroenterology is a subspecialty of internal medicine. It deals with disorders and diseases of the digestive system and the abdominal cavity.
But it’s not just the stomach that can be affected by functional disorders. The intestines are, of course, also part of this system. In a broader sense, this also includes the esophagus, the pancreas, the liver, and the gallbladder.
For this reason, gastroenterologists frequently collaborate with other specialists, such as surgeons, radiologists, and oncologists.
The main areas of treatment for gastroenterologists include reflux disease (heartburn and belching) and stomach ulcers.
The following conditions also fall within this specialty:
- Chronic inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease
- Hepatitis and jaundice
- Cirrhosis of the liver
- Irritable stomach and
- Irritable bowel syndrome
In addition to functional disorders, specialists in gastroenterology also treat cancers of the digestive tract, primarily colorectal cancer and stomach cancer.
The diagnostic methods are as varied as the diseases themselves.
They range from abdominal ultrasound to endoscopic procedures such as:
- gastroscopy (stomach endoscopy)
- Colonoscopy
During these procedures, doctors can also take tissue samples, remove colorectal polyps, or dilate the bile ducts.
About the medical author
Sabine Schneider
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Sabine Schneider – medical author: Explore expert articles and medical expertise in the Leading Medicine Guide.
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