Cancers of the colon, rectum, pancreas, stomach, liver, biliary tract, esophagus and small bowel are collectively known as GI cancers. Cancers of the gastrointestinal tract are among the most difficult cancers to diagnose as they are hard to see and examine. The Nebraska Medical Center has experts that specialize in cancers of the GI cancers. Patients, who are unable to receive the treatment they need from other medical centers, come to The Nebraska Medical Center for new and innovated diagnostic and treatment plans.

The biliary ducts are responsible for providing drainage to the gallbladder, liver and pancreas into the duodenum (first part of the small intestine). When there is a need to look inside these ducts, physicians have traditionally used fluoroscopy (X-rays) that provide only a two dimensional black and white image. This indirect image may result in an inaccurate clinical interpretation, require additional testing or a repeat procedure, which could delay diagnosis and treatment for the patient and their family.

The SpyGlass® Direct Visualization System from Boston Scientific addresses these limitations by inserting a miniature fiber optic probe (roughly the width of 10 human hairs) into the bile duct through a steerable catheter. The miniature probe is designed to allow the physician to see directly inside the biliary ducts to identify and assist in diagnosing obstructions caused by tumors or stones. The ability of a physician to take optically-guided biopsies in the bile duct with the SpyBite® Biopsy Forceps has been shown through clinical data to increase the likelihood of obtaining an accurate diagnosis over tissue samples obtained under fluoroscopy (X-ray). SpyGlass and SpyBite are registered trademarks of Boston Scientific SciMed, Inc.

3D Atlas video on colon cancer

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