Lumps and bumps in the GI tract are actually subepithelial lesions (SELs). They can arise from any layer of the GI tract (intramural) or outside the wall (extramural). They are usually found incidentally during endoscopy or imaging.
Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) can be used to further work-up these SELs by determining if the SEL is intramural or extramural, identify the GI wall layer of origin and guide tissue acquisition for studies including histology, cytology, immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry. The pathology combined with lesion size, location and EUS morphology can help distinguish between benign and malignant lesions.
Today we will go through the basics of SELs, how EUS can help in management, learn about some common SELs and end with case examples.
Our Speaker
Dr. Benjamin Yip
Gastroenterologist
Dr. Benjamin Yip is an experienced Consultant Gastroenterologist and the Medical Director of the Alpha Digestive & Liver Centre.
Dr. Benjamin Yip graduated from the National University of Singapore (NUS) with the degrees of Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery. He was then conferred Member of the Royal College of Physicians, United Kingdom (UK). He completed his specialist training in General Medicine and, thereafter, advanced specialist training in Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the National University Hospital, Singapore.
Dr. Yip was then awarded the Health Manpower Development Plan award to sub-specialise in Advanced Endoscopy at the Royal Free and University College Hospitals in London, UK. During his tenure, he trained with several leading members of the Advanced Endoscopy community. He received training in endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), Spyglass™ cholangioscopy, deep enteroscopy and enteral dilation/stenting.
Prior to his private practice, Dr. Yip served in the public sector for almost two decades. He was appointed Consultant at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (KTPH) as well as Ng Teng Fong General Hospital (NTFGH). He is currently still a Visiting Consultant at NTFGH. In recognition of his significant professional contributions to the field of Gastroenterology/Hepatology, Dr. Yip was elected Fellow of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore and Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians (Edinburgh, UK).
Dr. Benjamin Yip sees patients with General Medical as well as Gastroenterology/Hepatology problems. He sees patients of this nature who are acutely ill in the Emergency Department as well as in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and general wards. He also manages these patients in the outpatient clinic setting.
Dr. Yip’s main interest and joy lies in endoscopy. He regularly performs general endoscopies such as gastroscopy and colonoscopy (both diagnostic and therapeutic). However, his expertise lies in Advanced Endoscopy, where he performs complex endoscopic procedures including ERCP, EUS, single balloon enteroscopy, Spyglass™ cholangioscopy and enteral dilation/stenting. He was on the call roster for gastrointestinal bleeds as well as ERCP at KTPH and NTFGH.
Dr. Yip started the cholangioscopy service at KTPH after his return from Advanced Endoscopy training in the UK. In NTFGH, he was the only specialist doing both ERCP and EUS. In recognition of his dedication to patient care, he was awarded the Alexandra Health Service Champion Award. He has also served on the Endoscopy and Clinical Devices committees where he helped chart the direction of these services for the hospital. In addition, he was a member of the Chapter of Gastroenterologists, Academy of Medicine, Singapore.
Dr. Benjamin Yip is passionate about clinical research. He enjoys coming up with clinical questions and getting the answers via clinical research. He has presented his work at numerous local, regional and international conferences. He has also published several research articles in peer-reviewed journals. As a testament to his research capabilities, Dr. Yip was awarded the National Medical Research Council MOH Health Research Scholarship to pursue the Master of Clinical Investigation (MCI) degree course conducted in NUS.
His specialty interests are in advanced endoscopy.
