A thorough and accurate diagnosis of gastrointestinal (GI) cancer is the first step to treating it most effectively. At UT Southwestern Medical Center, we offer advanced diagnostic techniques customized to the location of the cancer in the digestive tract.
Our experts at the Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center focus solely on identifying GI cancers. They will discuss each patient’s diagnosis with the rest of the GI cancer team and determine a treatment plan specific to that patient and his or her cancer.
Diagnostic Tests
Some of the most common diagnostic tests for gastrointestinal cancers include colonoscopy, endoscopy, biopsy, and imaging.
Endoscopy
Endoscopic tests allow us to look inside the body using an instrument called an endoscope, which is a flexible tube with a light and tiny camera attached to it. Endoscopic tests to diagnose GI cancers might include these nonsurgical procedures:
- Colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy: Used to screen for colorectal cancer
- Upper GI endoscopy: Examines the lining of the upper part of the gastrointestinal tract, including the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum
Advanced Endoscopy
UT Southwestern takes endoscopy a step further than other centers in North Texas with our advanced endoscopy program led by Nisa Kubiliun, M.D., an interventional endoscopist.
Dr. Kubiliun and her colleagues use the most up-to-date endoscopic techniques, such as endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), to diagnose, stage, and sometimes treat patients with cancers of the esophagus, stomach, pancreas, liver, bile ducts, and colon.
Biopsy
During a biopsy, we remove a sample of the abnormal tissue so it can be examined for cancer by a pathologist. We often use endoscopic procedures to obtain a biopsy. Based on these biopsies, we can often make decisions about the behavior of a tumor and form the right treatment plan.
Imaging
Diagnostic imaging for GI cancers might include:
Specialized radiologists at UT Southwestern perform these imaging tests to diagnose GI cancers. Our radiologists are on the cutting edge in the development of new techniques to see more and smaller tumors using the most advanced equipment.
We work with a patient’s oncologists throughout treatment to identify meaningful changes in tumors to help guide treatment decisions. In particular, UT Southwestern’s body MRI radiologists are internationally recognized for their innovative techniques and expertise.
