Areas of Expertise
Diseases of the Esophagus and Stomach

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
GERD is a condition of abnormal exposure of the esophagus to refluxing gastric contents. Approximately 20% of the population experience weekly symptoms of heartburn or regurgitation, and GERD is the costliest gastrointestinal disorder in the United States. Tens of billions of dollars are spent each year on gastric acid suppression medications, yet we continue to witness a rise in the complications of the disease. More...

Barrett’s Esophagus
Barrett’s esophagus is a condition in which the normal cells lining the esophagus transform into an intestinal-cell type as a result of chronic injury from gastroesophageal reflux disease. The importance of Barrett’s esophagus is that it is considered a pre-cancerous condition, and it is the origin of esophageal adenocarcinoma. It is estimated that up to 20% of patients with reflux disease harbor these changes, and screening endoscopy is recommended for this reason. There is a risk of approximately 0.5% per year of untreated Barrett’s esophagus developing into cancer. More...

Esophageal Motility Disorders
Esophageal motility disorders encompass a broad class of diseases that are manifest by abnormal contractions of the esophageal body as well as abnormal function of both the upper and lower esophageal sphincters. Symptoms are quite variable, and can manifest as the sensation of food sticking, chest pain, or regurgitation. These disorders are notoriously difficult to assess on the basis of symptoms, and precise, reliable testing is critical to make the correct diagnosis. More...

Esophageal Cancer
The rate of esophageal cancer continues to increase in Western countries due to the epidemic of gastroesophageal reflux disease. Approximately 17,000 new cases will be diagnosed in the United States in 2011, a figure that has been increasing year after year. Many people have a nihilistic view of esophageal cancer, but USC thoracic surgeons have established an international reputation in the successful treatment of this disease with outcomes that are far superior to national and international benchmarks. More...

Gastric Cancer
Although the incidence of gastric cancer is declining, it is still a major problem with over 21,000 individuals diagnosed with the disease in 2011. The typical gastric cancer is an adenocarcinoma, similar to esophageal cancer. Over the decades true gastric cancer has continued to decline but cancers of the junction between the esophagus and stomach are increasing. These latter tumors appear to be more similar to esophageal cancers rather than true gastric cancer. More...