Find A Physician
Return to Pancreas and Biliary Disease Overview
More on Pancreas and Biliary Disease
Research and Clinical Trials
Return to Pancreas and Biliary Disease Overview
More on Pancreas and Biliary Disease
Clinical Services
Return to Pancreas and Biliary Disease Overview
More on Pancreas and Biliary Disease
Pancreas and Biliary Disease
The Hospital's pancreas and biliary programs combine the expertise of gastroenterologists and gastrointestinal (GI) surgeons with specialists in radiology, oncology, and other disciplines to provide patients access to the right services and resources. For example, for patients with pancreatic cysts detected via computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), physicians use endoscopic ultrasound to determine whether the cyst is pre-malignant, malignant, or benign.
Similarly, expertise is available at both campuses in the performance of endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERCP). This procedure is used to diagnose and treat diseases of the bile ducts and pancreas, including bile duct stones, benign strictures, and pancreaticobiliary tumors.
Pancreatic and biliary surgery is a very specialized field that requires well trained and highly experienced surgeons. At NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, our surgeons apply the latest laparoscopic techniques to improve outcomes and shorten hospital stays. In particular, laparoscopy, or minimally invasive surgery guided by a tiny fiber-optic camera, is being used to remove lesions both in the body and tail of the pancreas. These surgeons also are highly experienced with pancreaticoduodenectomy (commonly known as the Whipple procedure) for removal of a pancreatic tumor. The procedure, which was developed at the Hospital, has been shown to improve the survival rates and life expectancies of patients with pancreatic cancer and other less common pancreas problems.
Radiation therapy is an important component of the Hospital's multimodal approach to pancreatic tumors. Our radiation oncologists employ state-of-the-art computer-controlled linear accelerators for routine procedures, and also have the ability to perform three-dimensional conformal radiation or intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). They continue to evaluate methods for optimizing radiation treatment of pancreatic cancer using IMRT. Our radiation oncologists also offer a sophisticated brachytherapy program for patients with tumors of the bile ducts. In this type of treatment, very small catheters are guided to the site of the tumor to deliver a high dose of radiation where it is needed and will cause the fewest side effects.
It is now known that up to 10 percent of all pancreatic cancers can be a result of genetic predisposition. Our physicians have expertise in diagnosing, preventing, and treating these aggressive tumors, and they can offer genetic counseling and testing to help prevent pancreatic cancer.
