Gastroenterology

It happens about 600 times a day and, hopefully, you never give it a thought. Swallowing.  As simple as it seems, Mayo Clinic thoracic surgeon Stephen Cassivi, M.D., says swallowing is a very complex process with three distinct phases. Because it requires the coordination of several of the body’s systems, Dr. Cassivi (Kass' eh vee) says not everyone can take swallowing for granted.   Journalists: Sound bites with Dr. Cassivi are available in the downloads http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDrr-HmF1Nk

Researchers at Mayo Clinic have developed a promising method to distinguish between pancreatic cancer and chronic pancreatitis — two disorders that are difficult to tell apart. A molecular marker obtained from ...

New research shows that patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are at higher risk of melanoma. Mayo Clinic researchers found that IBD is associated with a 37 ...

Regular consumption of coffee is associated with a reduced risk of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), an autoimmune liver disease, Mayo Clinic research shows. The findings ...

In a Wall Street Journal article this week, reporter Ron Winslow wrote, "More than 200,000 Americans each year undergo a major operation called bariatric surgery to ...

  "INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE (ULCERATIVE COLITIS/CROHN'S DISEASE) IS CAUSED BY PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEMS." This Saturday Dr. William Faubion and Dr. Joseph Murray will discuss their research regarding gastroenterological issues that afflict ...

A bracelet-like device with magnetic beads can control the chronic digestive disorder gastroesophageal reflux disease. The device encircles the valve at the junction of the esophagus and stomach, ...

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Current national guidelines provide benchmarks regarding the number of polyps physicians should detect, on average, during a colonoscopy. Recent studies at Mayo ...

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: Until recently I’d never experienced heartburn, but now I seem to have it at least twice a week. I would like to avoid taking over-the-counter medications. Is it possible to prevent heartburn by avoiding certain foods? ANSWER: Heartburn, or acid reflux, happens when stomach acid backs up into your esophagus. It is a common problem. About 40 percent of people in the United States have some symptoms of heartburn, which is usually described as a burning pain in the chest after eating.   Treatment of heartburn depends on two issues. First, how much the symptoms bother you, and second, whether these symptoms signal an underlying esophageal injury that is happening because of the reflux. These can be two different issues, as the intensity of heartburn does not necessarily correspond to esophageal injury. In fact, people with severe esophageal injuries — such as esophagitis, where tissue in the esophagus becomes inflamed, or Barrett’s esophagus, a precancerous condition — often have mild symptoms or no symptoms at all.  

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Most people know a colonoscopy requires some preparation by the patient. Now, a Mayo Clinic physician suggests an additional step to lower ...

Mayo Clinic is receiving funding from the Biomarkers of Gut Function and Health program to identify and validate biomarkers that can guide new ways to improve the ...

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is not a disease but a group of symptoms that affects 10 to 20 percent of the population in developed countries. IBS is ...