If you have been diagnosed with an esophageal condition, your ability to function and maintain the best possible quality of life is extremely important to you. It is important to us, too.

World-renowned cure and survival rates are the hallmarks of care at the Virginia Mason Esophageal Center of Excellence.

A Highly Skilled and Experienced Team of Specialists

At the Esophageal Center, we are here to help you. Our internationally recognized physicians and surgeons have completed years of specialized training and are among the most experienced in the region. The center has the highest volume of esophageal resections in the Pacific Northwest, and is also at the forefront in endoscopic approaches to treatment of esophageal conditions.

Comprehensive Care for the Full Range of Conditions

The Esophageal Center treats a variety of esophageal disorders, including benign conditions such as Barrett's esophagus, benign esophageal tumors, eosinophilic esophagitis, paraesophageal hernias, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), achalasia, and other swallowing and motility disorders, as well as esophageal cancer .

Esophageal Disorders

Watch Dr. Ross on New Day Northwest talk about what to look for to catch esophageal cancer.

Our Experts Collaborate on Your Behalf

The center, led by Donald Low, MD, uses a multidisciplinary, collaborative approach to caring for patients with complex esophageal disease. The team includes experts from gastroenterology and surgery, interventional radiology, oncology, nursing and pathology. Constant communication and a nurse navigator for patients with esophageal cancer promote a seamless patient experience and ensure the best results possible.

Patients who have undergone surgery for esophageal cancer at Virginia Mason have the best outcomes in the world. In fact, analysis of the 20-year experience (1991-2011) of surgical treatment of esophageal cancer at Virginia Mason reveals a current low postoperative mortality rate of less than .5 percent compared to the national rate of 8.9 percent.

Our esophageal cancer outcomes have attracted the attention of physicians from medical centers around the globe, which has led to visits from international esophageal centers from the United Kingdom, Australia, the Netherlands, Russia, India and other countries. These visits have facilitated first-hand exposure to our clinical pathway for the perioperative management of esophageal cancer with the goal of improving outcomes in these institutions.

If you have questions or would like to schedule an appointment, call (206) 223-2319.