Pancreas and Biliary Center
The Pancreas and Biliary Center at the Massachusetts General Hospital Digestive Healthcare Center provides patients with specialized options for the detection, diagnosis, treatment and management of pancreatic and biliary diseases.
- Phone: 617-643-5677
Individualized, Multidisciplinary Care for Each PatientOur leading-edge medical and surgical interventions provide patients with timely diagnosis and individualized, ongoing care for the entire spectrum of pancreatic and biliary diseases.
Each patient’s treatment is overseen by a personal care team of pancreatic and biliary specialists and includes:
- Interventional gastroenterologists
- Surgeons
- Radiologists
- Oncologists
- Radiation oncologists
- Nurse practitioners and oncology nurses
The team works with both the patient and the referring physician to coordinate a care plan designed to offer the best outcomes.
Surgical Options
For more than 50 years, Mass General has pioneered landmark pancreatic-biliary surgical procedures including:
- Sphincter of Oddi resection
- Pancreatic cyst resection
- Whipple resections
We offer leading-edge surgical procedures, such as:
- Pancreaticoduodenectomy (Whipple Procedure), a procedure used to treat cancerous tumors in the head of the pancreas. We perform some of the highest volumes of this procedure in United States. Our mortality rates for this procedure are among the lowest in the nation. Patients who are not candidates for surgery may be referred to the Cancer Center for medical oncology
- Distal pancreatectomy, removal of the left end of the pancreas, which in many cases can be done laparoscopically
- Middle pancreatectomy, selective removal of the mid-portion of the pancreas, preserving the head and tail of the pancreas
- Cyst-gastrostomy, surgical internal drainage of a pancreatic pseudocyst
- Pancreatic debridement or necrosectomy, to remove dead pancreatic tissue
- Choledochojejunostomy, bypass of an obstructed bile duct, also known as the Puestow procedure. In selected cases, the spleen, which is usually removed, can be preserved
- Pancreatico-jejunostomy, drainage of the pancreatic duct
- Laparoscopic cholecystectomy, removal of the gallbladder containing gallstones
Learn more about pancreatic-biliary procedures in the Department of Surgery
Advanced Imaging ApproachesMass General is a leader in detecting early malignancies. Our diagnostic radiology team is composed of dedicated imaging specialists whose practice focuses specifically on GI scans. They are also nationally recognized for expertise in using the most sophisticated imaging tests to detect, diagnose and biopsy lesions in the pancreatic-biliary system.
In addition to CT and MRI scanning, we also offer advanced endoscopic imaging techniques, including:
- Endoscopic cholangioscopy, used to detect and treat of stones, tumors and diseases of the bile duct
- Endoscopic pancreatoscopy, used to detect early malignancies in the pancreatic duct
- Endoscopic confocal microscopy
- High-frequency probe endosonography, used to examine of superficial malignancies
- Endoscopic-ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration of solid, cystic, and complex tumors of the pancreas and bile ducts
- Optical coherence tomography, used to detect benign and malignant diseases of the bile duct
- Linear endoscopic ultrasound, used to detect early malignancies of the pancreas
Mass General was one of the first U.S. hospitals to offer endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), a minimally invasive procedure that combines X-ray and video endoscope technologies to diagnose and treat conditions of the bile ducts. We helped pioneered cholangioscopy, a new technique in ERCP, and have introduced other novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, some of which are available only at Mass General.
Other treatments include:
- ERCP guided stent placement, stone removal and incision of the pancreatic-biliary sphincters
- Endoscopic-guided drainage of pancreatic pseudocysts
- Endoscopic diagnosis and ablation of cystic neoplasms of the pancreas
- Endoscopic removal of polyps, ampullary tumors and early cancers
- Endoscopic ultrasound guided celiac neurolysis to help control pancreatic pain
- Radiofrequency ablation for liver tumors, a technique that heats and kills cancer cells, performed first at Mass General
- Intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT), which treats advanced pancreatic tumors by intensifying radiation and minimizing damage to healthy tissue
Learn more about the pancreas and biliary medical program in the Division of Gastroenterology.
One Call Coordinates Care
We provide patients and referring physicians with an experienced access coordinator, a clinician who is available to assess patients’ needs, coordinate appointments and begin the appropriate testing regimen.
Contact the Pancreas and Biliary Center’s access coordinator
We are one of the largest referral centers nationally for patients with pancreatic cancer. Our surgeons perform among the highest volumes of pancreatic cancer procedures, and studies have demonstrated that high volumes result in improved outcomes for patients. We also receive international referrals for the treatment of pancreatic and biliary diseases and cancers because of the outstanding results achieved by our surgeons.
We have expertise in the treatment of acute pancreatitis using a variety of approaches. We also have extensive experience treating pancreatic cysts and pancreatic cancer through the Cancer Center, including neuroendocrine tumors of the pancreas. Our pancreatic cancer patients have some of the best survival rates in the U.S.
We treat patients for the full range of pancreatic and biliary diseases:Benign conditions of the pancreatic-biliary system
- Chronic pseudocysts
- Pancreatic divisum
- Bile duct stones
- Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC)
- Autoimmune cholangitis
- Autoimmune pancreatitis
- Acute and chronic pancreatitis
- Acute and chronic cholangitis
- Biliary strictures
- Pancreatic stones
- Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction
- Congenital diseases of the bile duct
- Serous cystadenoma
- Lymphoepithelial cysts
- Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms
- Mucinous Cystic Neoplasia
- Solid pseudopapillary tumors
- Ampullary adenomas
- Pancreatic cancer (adenocarcinoma)
- Neuroendocrine tumors
- Zollinger Ellison syndrome
- Cholangiocarcinoma
- Metastatic tumors to the pancreas
After referral and initiation of therapy, we work closely with both the patient and the referring physician on long-term care plans, striving to offer the best possible outcomes.
A Dedicated Referral Line for Physicians and Patients
We provide patients and referring physicians with an experienced access coordinator, a clinician who helps assess patient needs, coordinate appointments and begin the appropriate testing regimen.
Contact the Pancreas and Biliary Center’s access coordinator
Calls will be returned within 24 hours.
Clinical Research to Improve Patient Care
We are recognized as one of the nation’s foremost research centers in the study of pancreatic and biliary malignancies. Our research focuses on prolonging and improving patients’ lives and includes:
- A nationally recognized pancreatic cancer research program
- Innovative chemotherapy regimens for the treatment of pancreatic cancer
- Hepatic and bile duct cancer research
- The investigation of the genetic links to pancreatic cancer, building upon the Cancer Center’s discovery of the first gene linked to the onset of pancreatic cancer
- Research related to the mechanisms that cause pancreatitis
- Studies related to tumor growth in pancreatic cancer to find new targeted therapies
Our physicians are active in clinical trials and research studies related to pancreatic-biliary conditions, allowing us to bring our patients promising new treatments as quickly as possible. Patients interested in participating in clinical trials can browse online for open trials.
Biliary Cirrhosis / Bile Duct Cancer
Biliary cirrhosis is a rare form of liver cirrhosis, caused by disease or defects of the bile ducts. Symptoms usually include cholestasis (accumulation of bile in the liver). There are two types of biliary cirrhosis: primary biliary cirrhosis - inflammation and destruction of bile ducts in the liver. secondary biliary cirrhosis - results from prolonged bile duct obstruction or narrowing or closure of the bile duct.
Cholangitis
Cholangitis is an inflammation of the bile duct system that is usually related to a bacterial infection. The bile duct system is the drainage system that carries bile from the liver and gallbladder into the area of the small intestine called the duodenum. The infection may occur suddenly or may be chronic.
Cholecystitis
Cholecystitis is an inflammation of the gallbladder wall and nearby abdominal lining. Cholecystitis is usually caused by a gallstone in the cystic duct, the duct that connects the gallbladder to the hepatic duct.
Gallstones
Gallstones form when bile stored in the gallbladder hardens into stone-like material.
Pancreatic Cancer
Pancreatic cancer is the fourth most common cause of cancer death in men and women in the US. Pancreatic cancer occurs when malignant cells grow out of control.
Pancreatitis
Pancreatitis is the inflammation of the pancreas. The inflammation may be sudden (acute) or ongoing (chronic).
Pseudocysts of the Pancreas
Pseudocysts of the pancreas are abnormal collections of fluid, dead tissue, pancreatic enzymes, and blood that can lead to a painful mass in the pancreas.
Pancreas and Biliary Center
Blake 455 Fruit Street
Boston, MA 02114
Phone: 617-643-5677
Email: njaner@partners.org
Hours: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday
E-mail our access coordinator, Naz Janer, RN, to begin the appointment process.
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