Illnesses and Injuries

Appendicitis can happen at all ages and can be difficult to diagnose except with surgery, if there is adequate suspiscion.

Breast cancer will strike approximately 1 in 8 women during their lifetime. A general surgeon is the specialist that most commonly deals with breast diseases nationwide.

Colon cancer is highly curable with surgery, if diagnosed early. Appropriate screening and therapy should be discussed with your family doctor.

Diagnostic laparoscopy is reserved for cases where, in general, other less-invasive tests have failed. Young, reproductive-age women can have difficult-to-diagnose abdominal pain where there is a multitude of potential causes. Laparoscopy is generally very well tolerated and can give valuable information for treatment options.

Chronic, severe, and refractory reflux esophagitis, with or without a hiatal hernia, can many times be repaired or stopped with a laparoscopic procedure (small incisions) that is called Nissen fundoplication. Certain indications should be met.

Gallstones commonly cause upper abdominal pain and can lead to cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder), common bile duct obstruction, or pancreatitis. The gallbladder can usually be removed through four small incisions which requires general anesthesia.

Hemorrhoidectomy is many times needed for recurrent internal or external hemorrhoidal vein swelling, inflammation, and pain that has failed adequate medical therapy.

Hernias are abnormal bulges, protrusions, or migrations of body parts outside their normal location.

Dark moles can be malignant (melanoma). Other types of skin lesions are often removed by a general surgeon as well.

Small bowel obstructions can commonly be caused by previous abdominal surgery, by cancer, or by some congenital causes.

Thyroid nodules can be a sign of cancer or can enlarge enough to cause local pressure symptoms necessitating removal.

About Dr. Johnson: Educational background, professional training and organizations, more.