General Practitioners

• Cryotherapy
  Medicines and/or surgery can effectively control the symptoms of GERD. However, neither medications nor surgery for GERD can reverse the presence of Barrett's esophagus or eliminate the risk of cancer. There are some treatments available that can destroy the Barrett's tissue. These treatments may decrease the development of cancer in some patients and include heat (radiofrequency ablation, thermal ablation with argon plasma coagulation and multipolar coagulation), cold energy (cryotherapy) or the use of light and special chemicals (photodynamic therapy). In some patients, endoscopic techniques to locally remove abnormal Barrett's tissue may also be considered (for example, endoscopic mucosal resection).
• Medical Weight Loss
  When a patient experiences common symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease, namely heartburn and/or acid regurgitation, additional tests prior to starting treatment are typically unnecessary. If symptoms do not respond to treatment, or if other symptoms such as weight loss, trouble swallowing or internal bleeding are present, additional testing may be necessary.
• Primary Care
  ASGE physicians usually work on referral from your primary care physician. Your GI endoscopist will communicate with your primary care physician about the results of your endoscopic procedure. Together, they will determine what is appropriate for treatment, follow-up visits and/or if future endoscopic exams are needed.
• Colonoscopy
  OVERVIEW Routine screening is an essential health maintenance tool that can help detect disease at an early stage when it is most treatable. Colonoscopy is a screening test that helps find polyps in the colon and rectum before they turn into cancer. Polyps are growths on the lining of the colon or rectum Read more
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Immunizations
  OVERVIEW Hepatitis B is an inflammatory liver disease that is caused by infection with the hepatitis B virus or HBV. It is one of the leading causes of liver cancer around the world, which, fortunately, can be prevented by vaccination. For most people with hepatitis B, do not experience symptoms even Read more

Gynecologists

• Pregnancy

Internists

• Internal Medicine
  The physicians at North County Gastroenterology maintain the highest level of accreditation and pursue ongoing education to stay abreast of the latest advancements in gastroenterology. The descriptions below will introduce you to our physicians' education, training, and professional credentials. All our physicians are Board Certified in Gastroenterology by the American Board of Internal Medicine.
• Gastroenterology
  North County Gastroenterology Medical Group, Inc. offers a full array of gastroenterology services to help you maintain a healthy digestive system. You can read about these specific services by using the Patient Education search box on the right.
• Colon Cancer
  This brochure addresses minor rectal bleeding that occurs from time to time. Continuous passage of significantly greater amounts of blood from the rectum or stools that appear black, tarry or maroon in color can be caused by other diseases that will not be discussed here. Call your doctor immediately if these more serious conditions occur. Because there are several possible causes for minor rectal bleeding, a complete evaluation and early diagnosis by your doctor is very important. Rectal bleeding, whether it is minor or not, can be a symptom of colon cancer, a type of cancer that can be cured if detected early.
• Endoscopy
  This information was developed by the Publications Committee of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE). For more information about ASGE, visit www.asge.org. This information is intended only to provide general guidance. It does not provide definitive medical advice. It is important Read more
• Lung Cancer
  TRUE. After lung cancer, colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. Annually, approximately 150,000 new cases of colorectal cancer are diagnosed in the United States and 50,000 people die from the disease. It has been estimated that increased awareness and screening would save at least 30,000 lives each year.

Psychiatrists

• Anxiety

Endocrinologist

• Diabetes Care

Radiologist

• Ultrasound
  Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) allows your doctor to examine your esophageal and stomach linings as well as the walls of your upper and lower gastrointestinal tract. The upper tract consists of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum; the lower tract includes your colon and rectum. EUS is also used to study other organs that are near the gastrointestinal tract, including the lungs, liver, gall bladder and pancreas. Endoscopists are highly trained specialists who welcome your questions regarding their credentials, training and experience. Your endoscopist will use a thin, flexible tube called an endoscope that has a built-in miniature ultrasound probe. Your doctor will pass the endoscope through your mouth or anus to the area to be examined. Your doctor then will use the ultrasound to use sound waves to create visual images of the digestive tract.
• MRI
  Most patients consider the test comfortable. The capsule endoscope is about the size of a large pill. After ingesting the capsule and until it is excreted, you should not be near an MRI device or schedule an MRI examination.
• Radiology
  Several screening techniques for detecting polyps and cancers in the colon are available: colonoscopy, tests on stool samples, sigmoidoscopy, or radiology tests such as a computed tomography colonography (CTC).
• X-Rays
• Computed Tomography
  OVERVIEW You may be familiar with different diagnostic procedures like X-rays or MRIs, but CT scans are slightly different. If you've ever heard of a CT scan, you know how important it can be in diagnosing illness and injury. But what exactly is a CT scan, and how does it work? In this article, we'll Read more
• Radiation Therapy
  Proctitis refers to inflammation of the lining of the rectum. It can be caused by previous radiation therapy for various cancers, medications, infections or a limited form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It may cause the sensation that you didn't completely empty your bowels after a bowel movement, and may give you the frequent urge to have a bowel movement. Other symptoms include passing mucus through the rectum, rectal bleeding and pain in the area of the anus and rectum. Treatment for proctitis depends on the cause. Your doctor will discuss the appropriate course of action with you.

Dermatologists

• Cyst
• Ulcer
  Solitary rectal ulcer syndrome is an uncommon condition that can affect both men and women, and is associated with long-standing constipation and prolonged straining during bowel movement. In this condition, an area in the rectum (typically in the form of a single ulcer) leads to passing blood and mucus from the rectum. Treatment involves fiber supplements to relieve constipation. For those with significant symptoms, surgery may be required.
• Lesions
  EUS provides your doctor with more information than other imaging tests by providing detailed images of your digestive tract. Your doctor can use EUS to diagnose certain conditions that may cause abdominal pain or abnormal weight loss. EUS is also used to evaluate known abnormalities, including lumps or lesions, which were detected at a prior endoscopy or were seen on x-ray tests, such as computed tomography (CT) scan. EUS provides a detailed image of the lump or lesion, which can help your doctor determine its origin and help treatment decisions. EUS can be used to diagnose diseases of the pancreas, bile duct and gallbladder when other tests are inconclusive or conflicting.

Allergists

• Allergies