Greetings
Gastroenterology is an extremely broad medical specialty. It covers the digestive tract, including the esophagus, stomach, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, and large intestine, which are the food passageways, as well as organs involved in food digestion, such as the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, and spleen. Furthermore, diseases that occur in these organs are diverse, ranging from acute to chronic, benign to malignant, organic, and functional. As a result, Gastroenterology receives a large number of patients, making it one of the departments with the highest number of patients at our university hospital. Furthermore, we receive many referrals from neighboring facilities for cases of difficult-to-stop Gastroenterology. While each physician has their own specialty, we strive daily to provide comprehensive gastroenterological and internal medicine care. We strive to provide medical care from the patient's perspective, so that we do not "see the disease but not the person," so please feel free to visit us.
Head Gastroenterology Department
Takehiro Kagawa
Treatment details
Features
Gastroenterology covers a broad range of organs involved in food digestion and absorption, including the digestive tract (from the esophagus to the stomach, duodenum, small intestine, and large intestine), as well as the liver, gallbladder, biliary tract, pancreas, and spleen. A distinctive feature of Gastroenterology is the extensive use of imaging and endoscopic examinations. Imaging tests include abdominal ultrasound, CT, MRI, PET-CT, and upper and lower gastrointestinal series, and physicians must be familiar with these procedures. In addition, upper endoscopy, colonoscopy, and small intestinal endoscopy are required for the gastrointestinal tract, while endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is required for the biliary and pancreatic tract. Furthermore, endoscopic ultrasound-assisted biopsy (EUS-FNA) is used to confirm the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, which has recently become increasingly common. In addition to diagnostic purposes, we also actively perform endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for early-stage gastrointestinal cancer and endoscopic drainage for cholangitis and encapsulated pancreatic necrosis (WON).
Gastroenterology holds a clinical conference once a week with all members, and also holds regular conferences with Gastroenterological Surgery and Radiology Departments to determine the most appropriate treatment, so please feel free to refer your patients to us.
Main target diseases
1. Gastrointestinal diseases
The digestive tract is divided into the esophagus, stomach, small intestine (duodenum, jejunum, and ileum), and large intestine. Esophageal diseases include reflux esophagitis, eosinophilic esophagitis, esophageal varices, achalasia, Barrett's esophagus, esophageal submucosal tumors, and esophageal cancer. Gastric diseases include Helicobacter pylori gastritis, functional dyspepsia, gastric polyps, gastric submucosal tumors, MALT lymphoma, and gastric cancer. Helicobacter pylori eradication also treats cases of drug hypersensitivity and failure of secondary treatment. Small intestinal diseases include ulcers, submucosal tumors, polyps, and cancer. Because the jejunum and ileum cannot be reached with upper and lower endoscopy, double-balloon endoscopy is used. Large intestinal diseases include polyps, cancer, diverticulitis, diverticular bleeding, ischemic enteritis, inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease), infectious enteritis, irritable bowel syndrome, protein-losing enteropathy, and malabsorption syndrome. We perform endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) for polyps smaller than 2 cm, and ESD for early-stage colon cancer.We also provide the latest treatments, including biologics, for inflammatory bowel diseases, for which new drugs have been emerging one after another in recent years.
2. Liver disease
Our facility has been designated as a liver disease treatment center and plays a central role in the treatment of liver diseases in the central and western parts of the prefecture. Liver diseases include acute hepatitis, chronic hepatitis, viral hepatitis, fatty liver disease, autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), cirrhosis, liver cancer, liver cysts, and liver abscesses. We actively provide nucleoside analog therapy for hepatitis B and DAA therapy for hepatitis C. We also incorporate the latest treatments for various complications of liver cirrhosis. We also provide endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) and sclerotherapy (EIS) for esophageal varices and balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (B-RTO) for gastric varices. For liver cancer, we perform radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), and for advanced liver cancer, we actively treat with molecular targeted drugs and immune checkpoint inhibitors. Furthermore, for large liver cysts that cause symptoms such as abdominal distension, we perform cyst aspiration sclerotherapy.
3. Biliary-pancreatic diseases
Biliary and pancreatic diseases include cholelithiasis, gallbladder polyps, cholecystitis, gallbladder cancer, common bile duct stones, cholangitis, bile duct cancer, intrahepatic bile duct stones, intrahepatic bile duct cancer, acute pancreatitis, chronic pancreatitis, autoimmune pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, pancreatic neuroendocrine carcinoma, and intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN). In response to the recent increase in pancreatic and biliary cancer, our hospital has established Pancreatic and Biliary Diseases Cente to ensure early diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Specifically, to ensure early and accurate diagnosis, we perform histological diagnosis using ERCP and EUS-FNA, and then decide on the best treatment plan in conferences with the Department of Gastroenterological Surgery Surgery and Department of Diagnostic Imaging. In addition, for cases of cholangitis where it is difficult to reach the papilla in the stomach after surgery, we treat them using double-balloon ERCP. Furthermore, for patients with recurrent pancreatitis due to pancreatic stones, we perform extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) to break up stones.
Main medical achievements
FY2023 results
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Gastrointestinal diseases
Upper endoscopy: 11,848 cases, of which 827 were treatments
3,720 lower endoscopies, of which 1,380 were treatments
Capsule endoscopy: 41 cases
Double-balloon endoscopy 59 cases
ESD 196 cases (38 esophagus, 83 stomach, 1 duodenum, 74 large intestine)
EMR 1,218 cases (esophagus 2 cases, stomach/duodenum 16 cases, large intestine 1,200 cases) -
Liver disease
TACE 80, RFA 20
EVL 35, EIS 19
6 B-RTOs -
Biliary-pancreatic diseases
ERCP (613 items)
Balloon endoscopic ERCP (42 cases)
EUS (115 cases)
EUS-FNA (121 cases)
Endoscopic ultrasound-guided drainage (11 cases)
ESWL (65 items)
Doctor List
Department Head: Tatehiro Kagawa
Ward 11B Chief Physician: Hidekazu Suzuki
Assistant Chief Physician of Ward 11A: Yoshitaka Arase
Assistant Chief Physician of Ward 13B: Aya Kawanishi
Assistant Chief Physician of Ward 14B: Kota Tsuruya
Clinical department URL: https://www.fuzoku-hosp.tokai.ac.jp/service/shouka-naika/
http://gastro.med.u-tokai.ac.jp/
Outpatient: 0463(93)1121 extension 6221
Professor Tatehiro Kagawa
| Specialization | General digestive disorders |
|---|---|
| Specialist | Certified internist, instructor, and General Internal Medicine specialist of the Japanese Society of Internal Medicine / Specialist and instructor of the Japan Society of Hepatology / Specialist and instructor of the Japanese Society of Gastroenterology / Specialist and instructor of the Japanese Society of Gastroenterological Endoscopy / Certified industrial physician of the Japan Medical Association |
| Specialized Areas | Hepatobiliary and pancreatic diseases (acute hepatitis, chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, liver cancer, portal hypertension, gastroesophageal varices, fatty liver disease, cholestasis), biliary and pancreatic diseases (benign biliary tract disease, biliary tract cancer, benign pancreatic disease, pancreatic cancer) |
| Outpatient medical day | Monday, Friday, Saturday |
Professor Masashi Matsushima
| Specialization | Diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal diseases |
|---|---|
| Specialist | Certified internist, instructor, and General Internal Medicine specialist of the Japanese Society of Internal Medicine / Specialist and instructor of the Japanese Society of Gastroenterology / Specialist and instructor of the Japanese Society of Gastroenterological Endoscopy / Helicobacter pylori infection certified physician of the Japanese Society of Helicobacter Research / Gastroenterology specialist and instructor of the Japanese Society of Gastroenterology |
| Specialized Areas | Gastrointestinal malignant tumors, inflammatory bowel disease, functional gastrointestinal disorders, gastroesophageal reflux disease, Helicobacter pylori infection, gastrointestinal endoscopic treatment |
| Outpatient medical day | Wednesday and Thursday |
Professor Hidekazu Suzuki
| Specialization | Gastroenterology diseases in general |
|---|---|
| Specialist | Certified internist, General Internal Medicine specialist and instructor by the Japanese Society of Internal Medicine / Specialist and instructor by the Japanese Society of Gastroenterology / Specialist and instructor by the Japanese Society of Gastroenterological Endoscopy / Hepatologist by the Japan Society of Hepatology / Certified cancer treatment physician by the Japan Board of Certified Cancer Therapists / Gastroenterologist and instructor by the Japanese Society of Gastroenterology / Helicobacter pylori infection certified physician by the Japanese Helicobacter Society / Certified industrial physician by the Japan Medical Association |
| Specialized Areas | Upper gastrointestinal diseases (esophageal, stomach, and duodenal diseases), functional gastrointestinal disorders (heartburn, stomach pain, heavy stomach feeling, nausea, loss of appetite, constipation, diarrhea, etc.), drug therapy for gastrointestinal diseases, chemotherapy for gastrointestinal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease |
| Outpatient medical day | Monday and Tuesday |
Professor Eisuke Iwasaki
| Specialization | Hepatobiliary and pancreatic diseases |
|---|---|
| Specialist | Certified internist, General Internal Medicine specialist and instructor by the Japanese Society of Internal Medicine / specialist and instructor by the Japanese Society of Gastroenterology / specialist and instructor by the Japanese Society of Gastroenterological Endoscopy / FJGES / instructor by the Japan Pancreas Society / instructor by the Japan Biliary Association / specialist by the Japan Society of Hepatology / gastroenterologist by the Japanese Society of Gastroenterology / certified industrial physician by the Japan Medical Association |
| Specialized Areas | Diagnosis and treatment of biliary and pancreatic diseases (EUS, ERCP, FNA) |
| Outpatient medical day | Tuesday and Wednesday |
Associate Professor Yoshitaka Arase
| Specialization | Liver, gallbladder, pancreas, digestive tract |
|---|---|
| Specialist | Certified internist, instructor, and General Internal Medicine specialist by the Japanese Society of Internal Medicine / Specialist and instructor by the Japan Society of Hepatology / Specialist and instructor by the Japanese Society of Gastroenterology / Specialist and instructor by the Japanese Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy / Certified technical physician by the Japanese Society of Portal Hypertension (endoscopic treatment area) |
| Specialized Areas | Viral hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, liver cancer, esophageal and gastric varices, fatty liver disease, ERCP, colon polyp EMR, primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) |
| Outpatient medical day | Wednesday and Friday |
Lecturer: Kota Tsuruya
| Specialization | Liver, gallbladder, pancreas, digestive tract |
|---|---|
| Specialist | Certified internist, instructor, and General Internal Medicine specialist of the Japanese Society of Internal Medicine / Specialist and instructor of the Japanese Society of Gastroenterology / Specialist and instructor of the Japan Society of Hepatology / Specialist and instructor of the Japanese Society of Gastroenterological Endoscopy |
| Specialized Areas | Viral hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, liver cancer, esophageal and gastric varices, fatty liver disease, cystic liver disease, gastrointestinal endoscopic treatment |
| Outpatient medical day | Tuesdays, Thursdays |
Lecturer: Mia Fujisawa
| Specialization | Gastrointestinal diseases |
|---|---|
| Specialist | Certified internist, instructor, and General Internal Medicine specialist of the Japanese Society of Internal Medicine / Specialist and instructor of the Japanese Society of Gastroenterology / Specialist and instructor of the Japanese Society of Gastroenterological Endoscopy / Helicobacter pylori infection certified physician of the Japanese Society of Helicobacter Research / Gastroenterology specialist and instructor of the Japanese Society of Gastroenterology |
| Specialized Areas | Peptic ulcer, malignant tumor of the digestive system, gastrointestinal diseases (esophagus, stomach, large intestine) |
| Outpatient medical day | Thursday |
Lecturer Aya Kawanishi
| Specialization | Hepatobiliary and pancreatic diseases |
|---|---|
| Specialist | Certified internist and instructor of the Japanese Society of Internal Medicine / Specialist and instructor of the Japanese Society of Gastroenterology / Specialist of the Japanese Society of Gastroenterological Endoscopy / Instructor of the Japan Pancreas Society / Instructor of the Japan Biliary Association |
| Specialized Areas | Diagnosis and treatment of biliary and pancreatic diseases (EUS, ERCP, FNA) |
| Outpatient medical day | Tuesday and Friday |
Assistant Professor Makiko Monma
| Specialization | Gastrointestinal diseases |
|---|---|
| Specialist | Certified internist and General Internal Medicine specialist by the Japanese Society of Internal Medicine, specialist by the Japanese Society of Gastroenterological Endoscopy, and specialist by the Japanese Society of Gastroenterology |
| Outpatient medical day | Wednesday |
Assistant Professor Erika Teramura
| Specialization | Gastrointestinal diseases |
|---|---|
| Specialist | Certified internist, instructor, and General Internal Medicine specialist of the Japanese Society of Internal Medicine, specialist of the Japanese Society of Gastroenterology, specialist of the Japanese Society of Gastroenterological Endoscopy, and certified Helicobacter pylori infection doctor of the Japanese Helicobacter Society |
| Specialized Areas | Peptic ulcer, malignant tumor of the digestive system, gastrointestinal diseases (esophagus, stomach, large intestine) |
Assistant Professor Masaya Sano
| Specialization | Gastrointestinal diseases |
|---|---|
| Specialist | Certified internist and instructor of the Japanese Society of Internal Medicine, specialist of the Japanese Society of Gastroenterology, specialist of the Japanese Society of Gastroenterological Endoscopy, and certified Helicobacter pylori infection doctor of the Japanese Helicobacter Society |
| Specialized Areas | Peptic ulcer, malignant tumor of the digestive system, gastrointestinal diseases (esophagus, stomach, large intestine) |
| Outpatient medical day | Friday |
Assistant Professor Hirohiko Sato
| Specialization | digestive diseases |
|---|---|
| Specialist | Certified internist by the Japanese Society of Internal Medicine, specialist by the Japanese Society of Gastroenterology, and specialist by the Japanese Society of Gastroenterological Endoscopy |
| Specialized Areas | Peptic ulcer, malignant tumor of the digestive system, gastrointestinal diseases (esophagus, stomach, large intestine) |
| Outpatient medical day | Monday |
Assistant Professor Masashi Morimachi
| Specialization | digestive diseases |
|---|---|
| Specialist | Certified internist by the Japanese Society of Internal Medicine / Specialist by the Japanese Society of Gastroenterology / Specialist by the Japanese Society of Gastroenterological Endoscopy / Certified Helicobacter pylori infection doctor by the Japanese Helicobacter Society / Certified industrial physician by the Japan Medical Association |
| Specialized Areas | Hepatic, biliary, and pancreatic diseases, gastrointestinal malignancies |
| Outpatient medical day | Mondays and Thursdays |
Assistant Professor Takashi Ueda
| Specialization | digestive diseases |
|---|---|
| Specialist | Japanese Society General Internal Medicine Internal Medicine Specialist / Japanese Board Certified Internal Medicine Specialist / Japanese Society of Gastroenterology Specialist / Japanese Society of Gastroenterological Endoscopy Specialist / Japanese Society of Helicobacter Research Helicobacter pylori Infection Certified Physician / Japanese Society of Gastroenterology Certified Physician, Specialist and Instructor / Japanese Society of Hepatology Specialist / Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Screening Certified Physician / Colonoscopy Screening Certified Physician |
| Specialized Areas | Gastrointestinal diseases, inflammatory bowel diseases, malignant tumors |
| Outpatient medical day | Wednesday and Saturday |
Assistant Professor Yoshihiro Shirataki
| Specialization | digestive diseases |
|---|---|
| Specialist | Japan Medical Specialty Board Certified Internal Medicine Specialist |
| Specialized Areas | Gastrointestinal diseases, biliary and pancreatic diseases |
| Outpatient medical day | Wednesday |
Assistant Professor Tomonori Makuuchi
| Specialization | Gastrointestinal diseases |
|---|---|
| Outpatient medical day | Tuesday |
Assistant Professor Yusuke Mishima
| Specialization | digestive diseases |
|---|---|
| Specialized Areas | Hepatobiliary and pancreatic diseases |
| Outpatient medical day | Monday |
Momoka Kakizawa, Clinical Assistant
| Specialization | digestive diseases |
|---|---|
| Outpatient medical day | Wednesday |
Yumi Tsuji, Clinical Assistant
| Specialization | digestive diseases |
|---|---|
| Outpatient medical day | Tuesday |
Takahiro Kikuchi, Clinical Assistant
| Specialization | digestive diseases |
|---|
Nagamu Inoue, Associate Professor (Health Management)
| Specialization | digestive diseases |
|---|---|
| Specialist | Specialist General Internal Medicine, Japanese Society of Internal Medicine / Specialist and Instructor of the Japanese Society of Gastroenterology / Specialist and Instructor of the Japanese Society of Gastroenterological Endoscopy / Specialist and Instructor of the Japanese Society of Coloproctology / Specialist and Instructor of Health Checkups |
| Specialized Areas | Gastrointestinal diseases, gastrointestinal health checkups |
| Outpatient medical day | Thursday (PM) |