ders, including PEPTIC ULCER DISEASE, IBD, and
familial cancers of the gastrointestinal tract.
GENETIC SCREENINGand GENETIC COUNSELINGmake it
possible for people to learn whether they are at
risk for many familial or hereditary disorders and
take appropriate measures to minimize their likeli-
hood for acquiring the condition. Numerous clini-
cal trials are exploring investigational GENE THERAPY
methods to treat or thwart hereditary disorders
such as celiac disease and cystic fibrosis.
COLONOSCOPY, visualization of the entire colon
using a flexible, lighted endoscope inserted
through the anus, has the potential to eliminate
70 percent or more of colorectal cancer through
early detection and removal of the adenomatous
polyps that are most often the source of cancerous
growths in the colon. Research continues the
quest for a less intrusive approach, with the cur-
rent focus on virtual colonoscopy and other proce-
dures that allow for the visualization of the
gastrointestinal tract without entering it (though
virtual colonoscopy does not offer the opportunity
to remove polyps; conventional colonoscopy
remains the therapeutic option of choice for most
polypectomies). Researchers are also looking for
ways to use ENDOSCOPYto screen for other cancers
that often go undetected until they are too
advanced for treatment, hoping technology may
offer similar preventive benefits for a broader
range of gastrointestinal malignancies.The Gastrointestinal System 7