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  Make the Best Choice For your Endoscopic Procedure
 

ASGE Members Specialize in Endoscopy and Digestive Health
   
 

Why you Should Choose an ASGE Member for Your Endoscopic Procedure?
  Having an ASGE member perform your endoscopy ensures that you are in the hands of someone who is highly trained. Physicians and surgeons who are members of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) have highly specialized training in endoscopic procedures of the digestive tract, including upper GI (gastrointestinal) endoscopy, flexible sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS). ASGE members undergo a rigorous application and screening process and are recognized by the medical community as knowledgeable, experienced experts in gastroenterology and GI surgery who, in addition, have advanced training in gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures.
  ASGE Members Have Demonstrated Proof of Rigorous Endoscopic Training
 

For nearly six decades, the ASGE has set strict requirements for membership, including demonstrated training in GI endoscopy. The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy is the only medical society that requires documentation of specific training in GI endoscopic procedures.
  ASGE Active Physician Members Have Met the Following Rigorous Requirements:
 

-Unlimited medical license;
-Graduation from an accredited medical school and completion of a residency program;
-Documented evidence of formal training in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy under the supervision of certified gastroenterologists or gastrointestinal surgeons – ASGE is the only society that requires evidence of such training;
-Finally, ASGE Active Members must provide evidence of professional competence through sponsorship by at least one member who has personal knowledge of the applicant’s endoscopic training and skills.
   
  Don’t you want to make sure that your physician meets the high standards of ASGE membership?
   
  How Will Your GI Endoscopist Work With your Primary Care Physician?
  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 future endoscopic exams.
  Is Your Physician an ASGE Member? Ask.
  Make the best choice. If you need an endoscopic procedure, ask your primary care doctor to recommend a gastroenterologist who is an ASGE member. ASGE members are distinctively qualified to perform the gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures your primary care physician or other healthcare provider recommends and to work with you and your primary care provider on issues of digestive health.
  Find an Endoscopist in Your Area
  The ASGE can help you find a GI endoscopist in your area. It’s easy. All you need to do is visit the ASGE web site at www.asge.org and click on the Find an Endoscopist section. By typing in your zip code, the Find an Endoscopist program will give you a list of the ASGE members in your area. And remember, you can always ask your physician if he or she is an ASGE member.
  Need More Information on Endoscopy or Colonoscopy?
  ASGE offers additional materials on GI endoscopy and endoscopic procedures including brochures on Upper BI Endoscopy, Endoscopic Ultrasound, Flexible Sigmoidoscopy and Colonoscopy on the ASGE site at www.asge.org as well as other useful information on digestive health and gastrointestinal problems.
   
  Make the Best Choice – an ASGE Gastrointestinal Endoscopist
   
  Endoscopy Procedures At a Glance
  There are a variety of endoscopic procedures used in the diagnosis and treatment of many problems and diseases of the digestive tract. They include:
-Flexible Sigmoidoscopy
-Colonoscopy
-Upper Endoscopy
-Endoscopic Ultrasound
-ERCP
-and others
 

Please see you physician for ASGE materials on these procedures or visit the ASGE web site at www.asge.org.
  Important Reminder:
  Important Reminder: The preceding information is intended only to provide general information and not as a definitive basis for diagnosis or treatment in any particular case. It is very important that you consult your doctor about your specific condition.
  The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE), founded in 1941, is the preeminent professional organization dedicated to advancing the practice of endoscopy. ASGE promotes the highest standards of endoscopic training and practice, fosters endoscopic research, recognizes distinguished contributions to endoscopy, and is the foremost resource for endoscopic education. ASGE with more than 7500 members worldwide, serves the medical profession and the public by developing and advocating responsible positions for the benefit of patients, the public and medical professionals. ASGE publishes the leading peer-reviewed endoscopic journal, Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (GIE). ASGE’s web address is www.asge.org.
  The preceding information is the opinion of and provided by the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.
 

American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
1520 Kensington, Suite 202
Oak Brook, IL 60523
Phone: 630-573-0600 Fax: 630-573-0691
E-mail: info@asge.org
Web site: www.asge.org
   
  Understanding GERD, Barrett’s Esophagus and the Risk for Esophageal Cancer
  ASGE Members specialize in Endoscopy and Digestive Health
  Am I at Risk for Esophageal Cancer?
  There are two types of esophageal cancer: squamous cell cancer and adenocarcinoma of the esophagus. Squamous cell cancer occurs most commonly in people who smoke cigarettes and drink alcohol excessively. This type of cancer is not increasing in frequency. Adenocarcinoma of the esophagus is increasing in frequency and is associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The most common symptom of GERD is heartburn, a condition that 20 percent of American adults experience at least twice a week. Although these individuals are at increased risk of developing esophageal cancer, the vast majority of them will never develop it. But in a few patients with GERD (estimates vary from 1 percent to 12 percent), a change in the esophageal lining develops, a condition call Barrett’s esophagus. Doctors believe most cases of adenocarcinoma of the esophagus begin in Barrett’s tissue.
  What is Barrett’s Esophagus?
  Barrett’s esophagus is a condition in which the esophageal lining changes, becoming similar to the tissue that lines the intestine. A complication of GERD, it is more likely to occur in patients who experienced GERD at a young age, had nighttime symptoms or had complications such as bleeding or stricture (a narrowing due to scarring). Dysplasia, a precancerous change in the tissue, can develop in Barrett’s tissue. Barrett’s tissue is visible during endoscopy, although a diagnosis by endoscopic appearance alone is not sufficient. The definitive diagnosis of Barrett’s esophagus requires biopsy confirmation.
  How Does my Doctor Test for Barrett’s Esophagus?
  Your doctor will first perform an upper endoscopy to diagnose Barrett’s esophagus. Barrett’s tissue has a different appearance than the normal lining of the esophagus and is visible during endoscopy. Although this examination is very accurate, your doctor will take biopsies from the esophagus to confirm the diagnosis. Your doctor can also use biopsies to search for dysplasia, a pre-cancerous change in the Barrett’s tissue that is not visible to the endoscopist. Taking biopsies from the esophagus through an endoscope only slightly lengthens the procedure time, causes no discomfort and rarely causes complications. Your doctor can usually tell you the results of your endoscopy after the procedure, but you will have to wait a few days for the biopsy results.
  Who Should be Screened for Barrett’s Esophagus?
  Barrett’s esophagus is twice as common in men as women. It tends to occur in middle-aged Caucasian men who have had heartburn for many years. There’s no agreement among experts on who should be screened. Even in patients with heartburn, Barrett’s esophagus is uncommon and esophageal cancer is rare. One recommendation is to screen patients older than 50 who have had significant heartburn or required regular use of medications to control heartburn for several years. If that first screening is negative for Barrett’s tissue, there is probably no need to repeat it.
  How is Barrett’s Esophagus Treated?
  Medicines and surgery can effectively control the symptoms of GERD. However, neither medications nor surgery can reverse the presence of Barrett’s esophagus or the risk of cancer. There are some experimental treatments through which the Barrett’s tissue can be destroyed through the endoscope; but these treatments can cause complications, and their effectiveness in preventing cancer is not clear.
  What is Dysplasia?
  Dysplasia is a precancerous condition that doctors can only diagnose by examining biopsy specimens under a microscopy. Doctors subdivide the condition into high-grade, low-grade, or indefinite for dysplasia. If dysphasia is found on your biopsy, your doctor might recommend more frequent endoscopies, attempts to destroy the Barrett’s tissue, or esophageal surgery. Your doctor will recommend and option based on the degree of the dysplasia and your overall medical condition.
  If I Have Barrett’s Esophagus, How Often Should I Have an Endoscopy to Check for Dysplasia?
  The risk of esophageal cancer in patients with Barrett’s esophagus is quite low, approximately 0.5 percent per year (or 1 out of 200). Therefore, the diagnosis of Barrett’s esophagus should not be a reason for alarm. It is, however, a reason for periodic endoscopies. If your initial biopsies don’t show dysplasia, endoscopy with biopsy should be repeated about every 1 to 3 years. If your biopsy shows dysplasia, your doctor will make further recommendations.
   
  Understanding Colon Cancer Screening
  ASGE Members Specialize in Endoscopy and Digestive Health
  Six Questions That Could Save Your Life (or the Life of Someone You Love):
  What You Need to Know about Colon Cancer Screening
  March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) encourages everyone over 50, or those under 50 with a family history or other risk factors, to be screened for colorectal cancer.
  Test Your Knowledge About Colorectal Cancer (CRC) Screening. If you think the answer is true or mostly true, answer true. If you think the answer is false or mostly false, answer false. Answers appear below.
 
Colorectal cancer is predominantly a “man’s disease,” affecting many more men than women annually.
False Colorectal cancer affects an equal number of en and women. Many women, however, think of CRC as a disease only affecting men and might be unaware of important information about screening and preventing colorectal cancer (CRC) that could save their lives, says the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.
Only women over the age of 50 who are currently experiencing some symptoms or problems should be screened for colorectal cancer or polyps.
False Beginning at age 50, all men and women should be screened for colorectal cancer EVEN IF THEY ARE EXPERIENCING NO PROBLEMS OR SYMPTOMS.
A colonoscopy screening exam typically requires an overnight stay in a hospital.
False Colonoscopy is almost always done on an outpatient basis. A mild sedative is usually given before the procedure and then a flexible, slender tube is inserted into the rectum to look inside the colon. The test is safe and the procedure itself typically takes less than 30 minutes.
Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer deaths in women in the United States.
True After lung cancer and breast cancer, colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer deaths in women in the United States. Annually, approximately 130,000 new cases of colorectal cancer are diagnosed in the United States and 56,000 people die from the disease. It has been estimated that increased awareness and screening could save 30,000 lives each year.
Tests used for screening for colon cancer include digital rectal exam, stool blood test, barium enema, flexible sigmoidoscopy, and colonoscopy.
True There are the five different tests used for screening for colorectal cancer even before there are symptoms. Talk to your healthcare provider about which test is best for you.
 
  Current recommendations for screening *include:
  Beginning at age 50, men and women should have, at a minimum:
  An annual stool occult blood test;
  Flexible sigmoidoscopy every three to five years, or a colonoscopy every ten years.
  A digital rectal exam at the time of each screening sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, or barium enema
  *Important: You should begin screening earlier if you have a personal or family history of colorectal cancer, polyps, rectal bleeding or long-standing inflammatory bowel disease such as ulcerative colitis disease.
Colon cancer is often preventable.
True Colorectal cancer is highly preventable. Screening tests such as colonoscopy and flexible sigmoidoscopy may detect polyps (small, grapelike growths on the lining of the colon). Removal of these polyps can prevent colorectal cancer from developing.
   
  The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy encourages you to talk with your healthcare provider about colon cancer screening and encourages everyone over the age of 50 to undergo the appropriate CRC screening.
  If your primary healthcare provider has recommended one of the common CRC screening methods of flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy, you can find a physician with specialized training in these GI endoscopic procedures y using the free Find an Endoscopist tool on the ASGE’s web site at www.asge.org. For a free information pamphlet on “Understanding Colonoscopy” or “Choosing an ASGE Member for Your Screening Procedure,” visit the Patient Information section of the ASGE web site at www.asge.org.
  Important Reminder: The preceding information is intended only to provide general information and not as a definitive basis for diagnosis or treatment in any particular case. It is very important that you consult your doctor about your specific condition.
   
  Understanding Polyps and Their Treatment
  What Is a Colon Polyp?
  Polyps are benign growths involving the lining of the bowel (noncancerous tumors or neoplasms). They can occur in several locations in the gastrointestinal tract but are most common in the colon. They vary in size from less than a quarter of an inch to several inches in diameter. They look like small bumps growing from the lining of the bowel and protruding into the lumen (bowel cavity). They sometimes grow on a “stalk” and look like mushrooms. Many patients have several polyps scattered in different parts of the colon.
   
  How Common Are Colon Polyps? What Causes Them?
  Polyps are very common in adults, who have an increased chance of acquiring them as they age. While quite rare in 20-year-olds, it’s estimated that the average 60-year-old without special risk factors for polyps has a 25 percent chance of having a polyp. We don’t know what causes polyps. Some experts believe a high-fat, low-fiber diet can be a predisposition to polyp formation. There may be a genetic risk to develop polyps as well.
  What Are Known Risks for Developing Polyps?
  The biggest risk factor for developing polyps is being older than 50. A family history of colon polyps or colon cancer increases the risk of polyps. Also, patients with a personal history of polyps or colon cancer are at risk of developing new polyps. In addition, there are some rare polyp or cancer syndromes that run in families and increase the risk of polyps occurring at younger ages.
  Are There Different Types of Polyps?
  There are two common types: hyperplastic polyp and adenoma. The hyperplastic polyp is not at risk for cancer and, therefore, is not as significant. Te adenoma, however, is thought to be the precursor (origin) for almost all colon cancer, although most adenomas never become cancer. A biopsy (or small piece of removed tissue) is the only way to differentiate between hyperplastic and adenomatous polyps will become cancers, larger polyps are more likely to become cancers and some of the largest ones (those larger than 1 inch) can already contain small areas of cancer. Because your doctor cannot be certain of the tissue type by the polyp’s appearance, doctors generally recommend removing all but the smallest polyps.
  How Are Polyps Found?
  Most polyps cause no symptoms. Larger ones can cause blood in the stools, but event they are usually asymptomatic. Therefore, the best way to detect polyps is by screening individuals with no symptoms. Several other screening techniques are available: testing stool specimens for traces of blood, performing sigmoidoscopy to look into the lower third of the colon, or using a radiology test such as a barium enema. If one of these tests finds or suspects polyps, your doctor will generally recommend colonoscopy to remove them. Because colonoscopy is the most accurate way to detect polyps, many experts now recommend colonoscopy as a screening method so that any polyps found or suspected can be moved during the same procedure.
  How Are Polyps Removed?
  Most polyps found during colonoscopy can be completely removed during the procedure. Various removal techniques are available; most involve severing them with a wire loop and/or burning the polyp base with an electric current. This is called polyp resection. Because the bowel’s lining isn’t sensitive to cutting or burning, polyp resection doesn’t cause discomfort. Resected polyps are then examined under a microscope to determine the tissue type and to detect any cancer.
  What Are the Risks of Polyp Removal?
  Polyp removal (or polypectomy) during colonoscopy is a routine outpatient procedure. Possible complications, which are uncommon, include bleeding from the polypectomy site and perforation (a hole) of the colon. Bleeding from the polypectomy site can be immediate or delayed for several days; persistent bleeding can almost always be stopped by treatment during colonoscopy. Perforations usually require surgery to repair.
  How Often Do I Need Colonoscopy if I Have Polyps Removed?
  Your doctor will decide when your next colonoscopy is necessary. The timing depends on several factors, including the number and size of polyps removed, the polyps’ tissue type and the quality of the colon cleansing affects your doctor’s ability to see the surface of the colon. If the polyps were small and the entire colon was well seen during your colonoscopy, doctors generally recommend a repeat colonoscopy in three years. If your repeat colonoscopy doesn’t show any indication of polyps, you might not need another procedure for an additional five years.
  However, if the polyps were large and flat, your doctor might recommend an interval of only months before a repeat colonoscopy to assure complete polyp removal. Your doctor will discuss those options with you.
  Important Reminder: The preceding information is intended only to provide general guidance and not as a definitive basis for diagnosis or treatment in any particular case. It is very important that you consult our doctor about your specific condition.
Warning: The information found on this site is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical care. If you have a health problem, or suspect you have a health problem, please see your health care provider
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