When you have recurring abdominal pain, you may worry that you just have to live with it or that your pain is all in your head. But there's hope. At Stanford Health Care, we are one of just a few programs in the country with a clinic dedicated to meeting the unique needs of people with undiagnosed abdominal pain. Through an innovative partnership with the Stanford Pain Management Center, experts from the Digestive Health Center deliver much-needed diagnostic exams and treatment.
List of MD’s
Kian Keyashian, Gastroenterologist
Andrea Castillo, Gastroenterologist
Rahul Verma, Gastroenterologist
Sundeep Singh, Gastroenterologist
Our Enterography Service utilizes CT enterography to visualize the small intestine and other abdominal structures, aiding in the diagnosis and management of conditions such as Crohn's disease. We transform standard CT images into 3D models using 3D grayscale volume rendering and Maximum Intensity Projection (MIP) reconstructions. These techniques enhance the contrast between different tissue densities and structures, with grayscale for volume rendering and MIP highlighting the brightest pixels. This approach helps in clearly delineating intestinal structures and identifying pathologies.
For patients with suspected Crohn’s disease or similar conditions, our service focuses on visualization of the small bowel wall and mesentery. When abnormalities are detected, we use Curved Planar Reformation (CPR) and oblique/magnified grayscale reconstructions to provide targeted views of the affected areas. These additional views enable a focused examination, potentially assisting healthcare professionals in making more informed decisions about patient care.
Our 3D imaging service for the pancreas utilizes Volume Rendering (VR) and Curved Planar Reconstructions (CPR) to provide detailed views that may enhance diagnostic capabilities for various diseases. These images may aid in the detection of conditions such as pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer, particularly in their early, more treatable stages.
Volume Rendering highlights differences in the pancreas's soft tissue, making it possible to identify small tumors or areas of inflammation. By differentiating tissue densities, VR images help detect abnormalities that may indicate disease. Curved Planar Reconstructions, on the other hand, may be effective for examining the intricate network of vessels and ducts within the pancreas, such as the Common Bile Duct (CBD) and pancreatic duct. CPR straightens these structures on the screen, allowing for easier identification of blockages, narrowings, or other abnormalities.
