GENERAL INFORMATION

The MGH Liver Center is an interdisciplinary group dedicated to treatment of, and research in, liver, biliary and pancreatic diseases. The Center's physicians include specialists in gastroenterology, gastrointestinal and transplantation surgery, gastrointestinal and interventional radiology, interventional endoscopy, oncology, radiation therapy, angiography, and pathology. They deliver the highest level of care possible, develop innovative treatment techniques and approaches, and provide educational services for the medical community. A support team of nurses, social workers and therapists play integral roles tailored to individual patient's needs.

A top priority of The Center is to advance research to improve the treatment of patients with liver, biliary, and pancreatic disorders. Current studies focus upon antiviral therapy for viral hepatitis (both in immunocompetent and in immunosuppressed liver-transplantation patients), novel surgical and radiation-therapy approaches to pancreatic malignancies, advanced interventional endoscopic and radiographic approaches to stone disease and malignancies of the liver, biliary tree, and pancreas.

LIVER CENTER STAFF

• Raymond T Chung, MD
  Medical Director, Liver Transplant Program



• Jules Dienstag, MD
• Andrea Reid, MD
• Michael Thiim, MD
• Daniel Pratt, MD
• Abigail Mithoefer, PA-C

RESEARCH

Our large patient population provides us the opportunity to observe, study, learn, and discover new knowledge in the area of hepatobiliary and pancreatic diseases. Our goal is to bring new treatments and management methods to patients that prolong life and enhance its quality.

Our research laboratories attract Fellows from the U.S. and abroad, creating an environment in which scientific inquiry thrives. Our clinical investigators collaborate with basic scientists in the fields of pathology, molecular biology, genetics, and immunology.

Liver-Biliary-Pancreas Center investigators were pioneers in the application of antiviral therapy to the management of patients with chronic hepatitis B and C; they continue to conduct clinical trials of new antiviral drugs and to refine the application of available drugs. The MGH is one of nine centers nationwide to participate in an NIH-funded study of antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis C. The HALT-C (Hepatitis C Antiviral Longterm Treatment against Cirrhosis) Trial. The goals of this trial are to identify therapy for patients who have failed previous treatment and to prevent progression of liver disease.

Center investigators, pioneers in the development of immunosuppressive agents for organ transplantation, are addressing the shortage of organs available for transplantation on multiple fronts--artificial liver-support devices (in collaboration with our Center of Engineering in Medicine), evaluation of animal organs, genetic manipulation of donor organs, liver-cell and pancreatic-cell transplantation, and tissue engineering to develop artificial organs.

Interventional radiologists, surgeons, and angiographers continue to refine invasive and minimally invasive approaches to hepatobiliary malignancies. Models of pancreatitis are being developed that can be used to identify means of preventing tissue damage and to establish novel treatments. The study of cystic tumors of the pancreas has permitted improved discrimination among the known causes and types, which, in turn, has offered more targeted diagnosis, treatment, and prognostic prediction. New chemotherapy protocols are being evaluated with which to prevent the spread of pancreatic carcinoma during surgical resection. Patients are being recruited for protocols to study endoscopic ultrasound-guided pancreatic biopsies, endoscopic mucosal resection of esophageal and intestinal malignancies, and choledochoscopy for biliary carcinoma.

REFERRING TO THE LIVER CENTER

Referring physicians may contact us by calling either of the numbers listed above. Your request for a referral is matched to a Center specialist based on the nature of your patient's condition. You should expect a return call within 24 hours of the referral request. In emergency situations, we respond as rapidly as possible. If you prefer, you may call any of our Center physicians directly.

Communication and flow of appropriate patient-related information between referring physicians and the MGH team is of critical importance. In order to avoid duplicate tests, MGH physicians review all relevant referral information, procedures, and tests before ordering additional studies. Our LBP Center specialists collaborate with the referring physician every step of the way in co-managing patients. At the initial consultation call placed within 24 hours of the inquiry, the Center specialist answers any of your questions and, if appropriate, arranges to see your patient for consultation. After each new patient visit, the Center specialist sends you a letter and, during treatment, a copy of the office notes. Our Center specialists consult with the referring physician whenever appropriate.

Referring physicians can access medical information or education at the Massachusetts General Hospital via video link and closed circuit television. The Telemedicine Center works with the LBP Center to arrange telemedicine consultations, triaging cases to appropriate medical staff, handling incoming patient information, coordinating hospital admissions, video conferences, MGH courses, as well as one-on-one tutorials and procedure demonstrations.

LBP Central Referral Service Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm 1-800-252-5644 Advanced Endoscopy Service (EUS, ERCP) 1-877-644-3636

SERVICES WE OFFER

• New anti-viral therapies
• Transplantation
• Medical management of portal hypertension
• Variceal banding
• TIPS
• Hepatic resection
• Percutaneous ablation of tumors (ethanol. radiofrequency)
• Regional chemotherapy
• Image-directed biopsy