In the past 30 years, gastroesophageal and reflux disease (GERD) has become an important area of clinical medicine. GERD has gradually become associated with other common but unexplained disorders. These conditions have been designated as the extraesophageal manifestations of GERD.

Dr. Anthony J. DiMarino, Jr. and Dr. Sidney Cohen and their contributors have written Extraesophageal Manifestations of GERD with the purpose to identify associations with conditions like hoarseness, laryngeal cancer, sleep disorders, and dental caries, and to explore possible causation and mechanisms of disease or possible noncausal relationships.

The extraesophageal disorders have become widely accepted in clinical practice. The evidence supporting the pathogenesis of these conditions falls into three major categories: guilt by association, observed mechanistic studies, and therapeutic response to treatment.

Inside the pages of Extraesophageal Manifestations of GERD the reader will find recognition and balance in treating patients with common symptom-based disorders. Final resolution of some of the controversies inherent in these associations may require advanced diagnostic tools and advanced pharmacological therapies.

With chapters written by experts in the fields of medicine, pediatrics, otolaryngology, and dentistry, Extraesophageal Manifestations of GERD will be a must have for gastroenterologists, internal medicine residents, surgeons, otolaryngologists, and pediatricians.

About the Author: Anthony J. DiMarino Jr, MD attended the University of Pennsylvania and graduated from Hahnemann Medical College, where he was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society. He completed his internal medicine residency and fellowship in gastroenterology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and served on its full-time faculty after training. From 1986 to 1996, Dr. DiMarino served as the Chief of Gastroenterology and Director of the Gastrointestinal Institute at Presbyterian/University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, as well as Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. In April 1996, Dr. DiMarino was named the William Rorer Professor of Medicine and Chief of the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. Dr. DiMarino is the author of more than 100 original papers, and as a lead author his papers have appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine, Journal of Clinical Investigation, The American Journal of Physiology, Gastroenterology, The American Journal of Gastroenterology, and Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.

Dr. DiMarino is editor-in-chief, along with Stanley Benjamin, MD, Chief of Gastroenterology at Georgetown University, of Gastrointestinal Disease: An Endoscopic Approach, an original 2-volume textbook, which is currently in its second edition, published by SLACK Incorporated.

Dr. DiMarino is considered a preeminent consultative gastroenterologist. In May 2007, Dr. DiMarino received the American Gastroenterological Association 2007 Mentors Research Scholar Award, which is given to individuals "who have made enormous contributions to gastroenterology through mentoring." Dr. DiMarino's research interests have primarily been in the areas of esophageal, gastric, and small intestinal motility; celiac disease; and the safety of gastrointestinal endoscopy. At the request of the Food and Drug Administration, he authored the "White Paper," which is currently still in use as the standard for reprocessing endoscopic gastrointestinal instruments to protect patient safety between patient procedures.

Sidney Cohen, MD is Professor of Medicine and Director of the Gastrointestinal Research Program at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (2001 to present). Previously, Dr. Cohen served as chairman of the Department of Medicine at Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia (1986 to 2000). His professional memberships include the American Federation for Clinical Research, the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA), and the American Physiological Society.

Dr. Cohen served as Chief of the Gastrointestinal Section at the University of Pennsylvania from 1972 to 1986. He was Chairman of the Department of Medicine, Vice President, and Distinguished University Professor at Temple University School of Medicine from 1986 to 2001. He was President of the AGA in 1991 and President of the Association of Professors of Medicine in 1996. He received the Julius Friedenwald Medal of the AGA in 2000. Dr. Cohen is a graduate of Rutgers University in New Jersey. He received his medical degree from The State University of New York School of Medicine where he graduated magna cum laude. He trained in Boston during the 1960s where he was exposed to many of the great figures in gastroenterology who had a major impact on his career. He completed his internship and residency at Boston City Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts; his senior residency at The University Hospital in Boston; and his gastroenterology fellowship at Tufts University Medical School, New England Medical Center Hospital in Boston.

Dr. Cohen has authored and coauthored more than 400 original papers, abstracts, editorials, reviews, and book chapters on a wide range of digestive disease issues. His most recent publications include "Eosinophilic Esophagitis Presenting as Spontaneous Esophageal Rupture (Boerhaave's Syndrome)" in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology and "Closure of a Nonhealing Gastrocutaneous Fistula Using an Endoscopic Clip" in Southern Medical Journal. His research focus is in the area of smooth muscle physiology and gastrointestinal motor function.