Department of Gastroenterology
The Department of Gastroenterology of Seoul National University Hospital engages in diagnosis, treatment, research, and education on major digestive diseases, including those of the esophagus, stomach, and colon, as well as liver, pancreas, and biliary tract.
1. Major Clinical Fields and Research Areas
- In the field of upper gastrointestinal disorders, diverse diagnostic procedures are performed including upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, endoscopic ultrasonography, 24-hour esophageal pH monitoring, and high-resolution impedance manometry. Therapeutic endoscopic interventions encompass endoscopic polypectomy, endoscopic hemostasis for gastrointestinal bleeding, balloon dilatation and stent placement for strictures, and percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy for enteral nutrition. Advanced therapeutic endoscopic procedures are also actively performed, such as endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for gastric adenoma, early gastric cancer, and early esophageal cancer, as well as peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) for achalasia.
- The Lower Gastrointestinal (GI) Team focuses on the care and research of patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), primarily Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, through a specialized IBD clinic. By utilizing rapidly advancing therapeutic agents along with colonoscopy, intestinal ultrasound, CT, MRI, and fecal calprotectin testing, the team aims to enhance patients’ quality of life and minimize the risk of complications. In addition, through the IBD patient support group, the team strengthens communication with patients, thereby improving both the efficiency of care and patient satisfaction. In addition, active diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy such as polypectomy and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) are performed for colorectal polyps and early colorectal cancer.
- In the field of hepatology, our liver center provides intensive care for a wide spectrum of liver diseases, including acute and chronic liver disorders, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. For the management of cirrhosis-related complications, we perform procedures such as endoscopic variceal ligation, transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS), and balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (BRTO). For hepatocellular carcinoma, a variety of treatment modalities are offered, including surgical resection, radiofrequency ablation, transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), transarterial radioembolization (TARE), systemic therapies such as immunotherapy and targeted agents, radiation therapy, and liver transplantation. Through multidisciplinary care, the most appropriate treatment strategy is tailored to each individual patient. In addition, various international clinical trials are being conducted, providing new opportunities and significant benefits for patients with limited options under conventional treatment approaches.
- In the field of pancreatobiliary diseases, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures are actively performed using endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for endoscopic sphincterotomy, bile duct stone removal, pancreatic stone removal, and stent placement. Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) is used for both the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatobiliary diseases, including drainage of the bile duct, gallbladder, pancreatic duct, and pancreatic pseudocysts. In addition, a wide range of advanced endoscopic techniques are performed, including percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy, single-operator cholangioscopy, electrohydraulic lithotripsy, and extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy. Our team is also actively engaged in the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic and biliary malignancies, using diverse systemic therapies and intraductal radiofrequency ablation.
- The Liver Research Institute of Seoul National University is conducting basic research to investigate the epidemiology and pathophysiology of esophageal, gastrointestinal, bowel, liver, pancreatic and biliary diseases, and to improve diagnosis and treatment. Molecular biology studies are being conducted on gastrointestinal cancer cells, anti-tumor effects of new anticancer candidates, identification of pathophysiology of inflammatory bowel disease, anti-inflammatory effects of drug candidates, and cohort-based genomic studies of liver and gastrointestinal diseases. The Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Research Team is conducting government-funded projects aimed at developing novel therapeutics based on the gut microbiome. Using multi-omics approaches with human-derived biospecimens, the team investigates the key mechanisms underlying IBD pathogenesis. Through these efforts, the research is expanding beyond therapeutic development to include strategies for disease prevention.