Medical specialty: Gastroenterology
Diseases of the digestive organs can be examined by endoscopy, i.e. without surgery, and partly treated by this method. Growths in the bowel wall (polyps) or gallstones can be removed minimally invasive, for example. Important gastroenterological diseases are tumors of the digestive tract (colon cancer), liver disease and inflammatory intestine disorders.
In Germany and Switzerland, the specialist in internal medicine with focus on gastroenterology must have completed his medical studies, and in addition six years of further training with defined examination and treatment procedures.