Atrium Health Gastroenterology and Hepatology
What is your colorectal cancer risk?
Take a quick, free online health assessment to estimate your risk of developing colorectal cancer.
To schedule an appointment, call your doctor’s office or 704-512-6161. We’ll help you decide if your next visit should be in person, by phone or a video chat.
In a medical emergency, go to an emergency room or call 911 right away.
Atrium Health Gastroenterology and Hepatology merges the latest technological advancements with more than 40 years of experience to prevent, diagnose and treat conditions of the digestive system and related organs.
From colonoscopy screenings to liver transplants, we’re committed not just to delivering better care, but to delivering the very best care. So, you can feel your best and get back to what matters most.
Our digestive health programs include:
- Gastrointestinal Program We treat various GI conditions and offer diagnostic services like upper GI endoscopy, colonoscopy and flexible sigmoidoscopy.
- Liver Program We provide treatment for a wide range of liver diseases like hepatitis B, cirrhosis and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
At Atrium Health Gastroenterology and Hepatology, you have access to:
- A skilled team of specialists, including gastroenterologists, hepatologists, surgeons, oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, pharmacists, dieticians and social workers
- Innovative treatment methods, including minimally invasive surgical techniques and ablation therapies (used to destroy abnormal tissue)
- Breakthrough clinical trials to treat gastrointestinal cancers, motility disorders, and liver and pancreatic diseases
We care for the full spectrum of digestive health conditions, including but not limited to:
- Abdominal pain
- Acid reflux, also called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Barrett’s esophagus (exposure to stomach acid leads to abnormal cells in the esophagus)
- Cancerous and noncancerous tumors
- Colitis, also called ulcerative colitis (type of inflammatory bowel disease that affects the colon)
- Colorectal polyps (growth in the lining of colon or rectum)
- Crohn’s disease (type of inflammatory bowel disease that affects the GI lining)
- Esophageal stricture (narrowing and tightening of the esophagus)
- Fistulas (abnormal openings in your GI tract that cause gastric fluid leakage)
- Gastroparesis (delayed gastric emptying)
- Hemorrhoids (swollen veins in the rectum)
- Hiatal hernia (when part of the stomach bulges into the chest)
- Lesions (abnormal blood vessels of the GI tract)
- Liver diseases
- Stomach ulcers
Gastrointestinal (GI) Program
We provide evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of GI conditions. Conditions like acid reflux, Crohn's disease and colitis are common. But to avoid complications, it’s best that you get diagnosed and treated as early as possible.
GI diagnostic services include:
- Advanced motility testing: We’re one of the few programs to offer this test, which we use to monitor upper GI tract functionality, pinpoint what may be causing swallowing or digestion problems, and make an accurate diagnosis.
- Colonoscopy: During this procedure, we examine the inside of the large intestine (colon and rectum) with an endoscope (thin, flexible tube equipped with imaging tools and other instruments). Colonoscopies are used for colorectal cancer screenings as well as to evaluate a range of GI symptoms.
- Flexible sigmoidoscopy: This procedure is similar to a colonoscopy, but only the lower part of the colon (rectum and sigmoid colon) is examined for signs of colorectal cancer with a thin, flexible tube with a camera (endoscope).
- Upper GI endoscopy: An endoscope is inserted down the throat to examine the lining of the esophagus, stomach and upper intestine to identify any abnormalities, such as ulcers or tumors.
We provide a variety of treatment approaches, including following a modified diet, taking medications and undergoing minimally invasive surgery. Your customized treatment plan will depend on many variables, such as your condition and medical history.
Advanced GI procedures include:
- Advanced polyp resection: A specialized endoscopic (thin, flexible tube equipped with imaging tools and other instruments) is used to remove complex polyps or early cancerous lesions.
- Complex endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR): Endoscopes are used while fluid is injected under the polyp to lift it away from the muscle wall, making it easier to remove complex polyps or early tumors. This procedure can also be used to treat Barrett’s esophagus, by removing damaged tissue from the esophagus wall.
- Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP): Combining an X-ray and a special endoscope, this procedure is used to diagnose and treat various problems of the bile ducts and pancreas.
- Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS): An endoscope fitted with an ultrasound device is used to evaluate lesions (abnormal blood vessels) that may be within or just outside of the GI tract. The scope can also be used for therapeutic purposes, such as draining pancreatic fluid buildup or reducing pain related to pancreatic cancer or pancreatitis.
- Enteral stenting: Using an endoscope, a stent is placed in the digestive tract to open a blocked area.
- Radiofrequency ablation: Used to treat Barrett’s esophagus, heat is applied to destroy (remove) damaged tissue from the esophagus.
Colonoscopies Prevent Colon Cancer
Colonoscopies are so important because they can prevent colon cancer (also called colorectal cancer). Most cases of colon cancer begin as a noncancerous growth, called a polyp, on the inner lining of the colon or rectum.
During a colonoscopy, a doctor can examine the colon for polyps, remove them, and perform a polyp biopsy (removing and testing a sample of tissue) to determine if the growth is cancerous or noncancerous. When colon cancer is caught in the early stages, it's one of the most curable cancers.
Schedule a colonoscopy appointment: 704-512-6161.
Liver Program
Our diverse team of liver specialists uses the latest technologies and advancements to treat a broad range of liver conditions, including:
- Autoimmune Hepatitis
- Cirrhosis
- Hepatitis B
- Hepatitis C
- Liver Transplant
- Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
- Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis & Primary Biliary Cholangitis
A facility of Carolinas Medical Center
1025 Morehead Medical Drive, Suite 300
Charlotte, NC 28204
Phone: 704-355-4593
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1585 Forney Creek Parkway, Suite 2350
Denver, NC 28037
Phone: 980-212-4000
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16455 Statesville Road, Suite 200
Huntersville, NC 28078
Phone: 704-801-3011
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441 McAlister Road, Suite 2600
Lincolnton, NC 28092
Phone: 980-212-4000
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10650 Park Road, Suite 480
Charlotte, NC 28210
Phone: 704-667-0520
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1100 Healing Way, Suite 21
Matthews, NC 28104
Phone: 980-993-1770
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923 North Second St., Suite 204
Albemarle, NC 28001
Phone: 980-323-5600
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808 N. Washington St.
Shelby, NC 28150
Phone: 980-487-1400
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101 E. W.T. Harris Blvd. Suite 5401
Charlotte, NC 28262
Phone: 704-355-8850
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1225 Harding Place
Suite 5100
Charlotte, NC 28104
Phone: 704-355-8850
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Endoscopy Center Locations
15110 John J. Delaney Drive. Suite 120
Charlotte, NC 28277
Phone: 704-512-2140
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1225 Harding Place, Suite 5200
Charlotte, NC 28204
Phone: 704-355-4178
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16445 Statesville Road, Suite 114
Huntersville, NC 28078
Phone: 704-237-9290
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10520 Park Road, Suite 105
Charlotte, NC 28210
Phone: 704-927-5756
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1000 Blythe Blvd.
Charlotte, NC 28203
Phone: 704-355-2000
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2001 Vail Avenue
Charlotte, NC 28207
Phone: 704-304-5000
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441 McAlister Road, Suite 2100
Lincolnton, NC 28092
Phone: 980-212-4000
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1100 N Lafayette St.
Shelby, NC 28150
Phone: 704-482-1331
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1585 Forney Creek Parkway #1100
Denver, NC 28037
Phone: 704-735-7245
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Your endoscopy appointment will be scheduled after you see a gastroenterologist at one of the above locations.
Liver Treatment Centers Locations
10502 Park Road, Suite 110
Charlotte, NC 28210
Phone: 704-667-1550
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301 E. Wendover Ave., Suite 412
Greensboro, NC 27401
Phone: 336-235-0866
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126 Milestone Way
Greenville, SC 29615
Phone: 864-675-5844
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11 Gateway Corners Park
Columbia, SC 29203
Phone: 704-355-6649
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1025 Morehead Medical Drive, Suite 600
Charlotte, NC 28204
Phone: 704-355-6649
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Colonoscopy FAQ's
What is a colonoscopy?
It's a procedure that allows your doctor to examine the inside of the colon to check for abnormalities, such as polyps. During a colonoscopy, a thin, flexible tube (colonoscope) is passed through the rectum into the colon (large intestine). The tube has a tiny camera that allows the doctor to view this area and identify, test or remove any polyps or other abnormalities. Removing polyps helps to prevent colon cancer.
What are polyps in the colon?
A polyp is a small clump of cells that forms on the lining of the colon. Most colon polyps are noncancerous, but over time some types can become cancerous. Removing polyps is the best way to prevent cancer from developing. Polyps typically don’t cause symptoms, which is why it’s so important to have regular colonoscopy screenings.
When do I need to see a colorectal surgeon?
If cancerous polyps are suspected and your gastroenterologist determines that colorectal surgery is needed for further diagnosis or to remove cancerous tissue, they’ll refer you to a colorectal surgeon. Learn more about colorectal surgery.
Is a colonoscopy painful?
Most people choose to be under sedation during the procedure and don’t remember any of it when they wake up. Sometimes people experience a bit of gas pain afterwards from having air inserted into the colon during the procedure, but that’s usually it.
Am I at risk for colon cancer?
Everyone is at risk. Colon cancer is the third most common type of cancer in both men and women and is the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States.
You're at higher risk if you:
- Have Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis
- Are between the ages of 45 to 75
- Have a family history of colon cancer or precancerous polyps
I don’t have symptoms, so I don’t need a colonoscopy, right?
False. Symptoms usually don’t appear until the later stages of colon cancer. But when it’s detected early, colon cancer is one of the easiest cancers to treat. That’s why regular colonoscopy screenings are so important.