Multi-regional Disorders

This chapter discusses the various entities involving the entire digestive system and presenting with symptoms suggestive of sensory-motor gastrointestinal disorder, such as abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, and fecal incontinence. A key element in these conditions is their clinical presentation, at times starting with one organ and evolving other organs later in the course, or their simultaneous involvement of multiple organs. Because of overlapping symptoms, they tend to be refractory to therapy if such therapy is not applied to all involved organs or unrecognized systemic illness. Understanding and managing these conditions requires continuous exchange with oncology, radiation oncology, surgery, and neurology, among other subspecialties.