Hemorrhoids are a very common and troublesome disorder. They may mask a more serious diagnosis, such as colon or rectal cancer. Therefore, hemorrhoids require proper diagnosis and treatment by your physician. Hemorrhoids are dilated (enlarged) veins which occur in and around the anus and rectum. They may be external (outside the anus) or internal, and...Read More

Hepatitis B is caused by a virus and may cause acute and chronic liver disease. Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver which causes swelling that results when tissues of the body become injured or infected. This inflammation can cause your liver to function improperly. Most people are able to fight the infection themselves, but about...Read More

Hepatitis C is a virus that causes liver disease and inflammation of the liver.  It is diagnosed through blood tests to determine whether it is acute or chronic.  A liver biopsy may also be suggested.  Most cases of Hepatitis C are chronic in nature and this occurs when the body cannot rid itself of the...Read More

Hydrogen breath testing can provide information regarding the malabsorption of certain carbohydrates such as milk sugar (lactose) or fruit sugar (fructose). These tests are also used to detect abnormal growth of bacteria, within the small intestine.  Bacterial Overgrowth can cause a variety of symptoms including diarrhea, bloating, “gas” and abdominal cramps. Your G.I. physician can...Read More

Doctors can diagnose influenza (flu) using your symptoms alone if many cases of a similar illness have occurred in the community and if the local health department has confirmed a flu outbreak. Tests to confirm you have the flu and to find out the type of virus may be important if: The results may affect...Read More

Magnetic Resonance Imaging is a test that uses a magnetic field and pulses of radio wave energy to make pictures of organs and structures inside the body. In many cases MRI gives different information about structures in the body than can be seen with an X-ray, ultrasound, or computed tomography (CT) scan. MRI also may...Read More