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.
