A gastroenterological list for the millennium

To determine the 10 most significant advances in gastroenterology during th is century as we approach the millennium, the authors polled 50 distinguish ed active clinicians and leading researchers in the field, including worker s in liver disease and the pathology of the gut and its associated glands. Forty-five persons (90%) responded and listed 58 different items. These wer e then organized into four groups:,group A, with 10 categories that receive d between 42 and 11 votes; group B, with 10 categories that received betwee n 10 and 3 votes; group C, with 3 items receiving 2 votes each; and group D , with the remaining 14 items receiving 1 vote each. The respondents did no t indicate their choices in rank order. The top 10 leading choices (group A , containing between 42 and 11 votes) included Helicobacter pylori, fiberop tic endoscopy, gastrointestinal imaging by radiograph and computed tomograp hic scan, Australia antigen includings vaccines for hepatitis A and B, the molecular basis of colon cancer, liver transplantation, laparoscopic-assist ed surgery, therapy for peptic ulcer disease including H-2-receptor antagon ists and proton pump inhibitors, the discovery of gastrointestinal hormones beginning with secretin, and lastly the discovery of the role for gluten i n celiac disease.