The Surgical Oncology Specialized Clinic offers diagnostic and treatment services for patients with sarcoma, endocrine tumors and other rare malignancies requiring specialized knowledge and expertise. A multidisciplinary Gastrointestinal Malignancy Center evaluates patients either suspected of having, or recently diagnosed with, tumors in the stomach or intestines. Patients can be treated by gastroenterologists, medical and surgical oncologists, and radiation oncologists during a single visit. The primary focus is on early diagnosis, breast conservation and enrollment in institutional and national protocols to help maximize the patient's chances for cure. In a collaborative study with the UCI Beckman Laser Institute and Medical Clinic, part of the Department of Surgery, Dr. John Butler and Dr. Bruce Tromberg are examining the use of optical laser detection devices in differentiating malignant breast cancer from benign lesions or normal breast tissue.
Doctors measure how the light is scattered and absorbed into the tissue.
In examining premenopausal women, who tend to have denser breast tissue than older women, making it more difficult to determine if a mass is malignant or benign. M.D. The Breast Center provides women with the specialized knowledge needed for early detection, diagnosis and treatment of breast disease. M.D. The Melanoma Center provides specialized screening and treatment services utilizing services of surgical oncologists, dermatopathologists, dermatologists and plastic surgeons.