Gastroenterologic Cancers ESOPHAGEAL CANCER Richard W. Golub MD, FACS Nuria Lawson MD Cancer of the esophagus is a rare but aggressive malignancy, the etiology of which remains uncertain. Most patients…

Hemorrhoids Steven Lowy MD Hemorrhoids (sometimes referred to as piles) are tumors made up of enlarged rectal and anal veins along with reactive tissue surrounding those veins. Although a common…

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Paul Cohen MD Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is such a common problem that it affects more than 1 out of 10 people on a daily basis. The…

Gallbladder Charles Berk MD The problems of the gallbladder related to gallstones present along a broad clinical spectrum. Most patients with gallstones remain clinically silent. Symptoms in many patients are…

Cirrhosis of the Liver Rosalinda Margulies BSN, MPH, RNC Albert D. Min MD Cirrhosis of the liver is defined as the destruction of normal hepatic architecture through fibrosis and nodular…

Bowel Obstruction Paul Cohen MD Bowel obstruction refers to a blockage in either the small or the large bowel (colon). When a patient presents with symptoms suggestive of obstruction, it…

Diseases of the Thyroid and Parathyroid Glands Muriel N. Nathan PhD, MD This chapter will discuss thyroid and parathyroid diseases. Because of the complexity of this information, the chapter will…

Diseases of the Adrenal Glands Muriel N. Nathan PhD, MD The adrenal glands, which sit on top of the kidneys, are very small organs with complex functions. The gland has…

Diabetes Mellitus Carol Green-Hernandez PhD, ANP/FNP-C Diabetes mellitus is a disorder of endocrine function that affects metabolic and circulatory mechanisms. As a chronic disease, diabetes mellitus is characterized by glucose…

Common Dermatologic Conditions Goldie Gianoulis-Alissandratos RN, MS, FNP, DNC Of all the body organs that make up an individual, the skin is the largest and most visible. Information about a…