William R. Brugge, MD

Associate Professor of Medicine
Harvard Medical School
Address: Massachusetts General Hospital
Blake 4
55 Fruit St.
Boston, MA 02114
Patient Appointments: (617) 724-0578
Academic Phone: (617) 724-3715
Fax: (617) 724-5997
E-Mail: wbrugge@partners.org
Academic Assistant: Judy Aukstikalnis
Clinical Background:  
MD Degree: Baylor College of Medicine, 1974
Residency: University of Colorado, 1977
Fellowship: University of Colorado, 1979
Board Certifications: Internal Medicine, 1977
  Gastroenterology, 1981
Clinical Interests: Pancreatic-biliary disorders
Pancreatic cancer
Gastrointestinal Malignancies
Therapeutic endoscopy
Endoscopic ultrasound
Research Interests:

My research has focused on the early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. We have developed a variety of endoscopic techniques to aspirate malignant and pre-malignant lesions of the pancreas. These lesions include cystadenomas, intra-ductal tumors, and masses. We have worked closely with collaborators in the MGH Departments of Cytology and Chemistry to develop assays for tumor markers and cytologic analysis that are capable of making a tissue diagnosis of a mucinous cystadenoma and detecting early evidence of malignant degeneration. Recently, we have studied EUS guided techniques to abate cystic and solid pancreatic malignancies.

Recent Publications:
  1. Pitman MB, Michaels PJ, Deshpande V, Brugge WR, Bounds BC. Cytological and Cyst Fluid Analysis of Small (

  2. Vignesh S, Brugge WR. Endoscopic diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cysts. J Clin Gastroenterol. 2008 May-Jun;42(5):493-506.

  3. Brugge WR. Diagnosis and management of relapsing pancreatitis associated with cystic neoplasms of the pancreas. World J Gastroenterol. 2008 Feb 21;14(7):1038-43. Review.

  4. Belsley NA, Pitman MB, Lauwers GY, Brugge WR, Deshpande V. Serous cystadenoma of the pancreas: limitations and pitfalls of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy. Cancer. 2008 Apr 25;114(2):102-10.

  5. Brugge WR. The incidental pancreatic cyst on abdominal computerized tomography imaging: diagnosis and management. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2008 Feb;6(2):140-4

  6. Brugge WR. EUS is an important new tool for accessing the portal vein. Gastrointest Endosc. 2008 Feb;67(2):343-4.

  7. Yusuf TE, Matthes K, Brugge WR. EUS-guided photodynamic therapy with verteporfin for ablation of normal pancreatic tissue: a pilot study in a porcine model (with video). Gastrointest Endosc. 2008 May;67(6):957-61.

  8. Sahani DV, Shah ZK, Catalano OA, Boland GW, Brugge WR. Radiology of pancreatic adenocarcinoma: current status of imaging. J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2008 Jan;23(1):23-33. Review.

  9. Brugge WR. Optimizing methods for the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. J Clin Gastroenterol. 2007 Nov-Dec;41(10):869-70.

  10. Willingham FF, Gee DW, Lauwers GY, Brugge WR, Rattner DW. Natural orifice transesophageal mediastinoscopy and thoracoscopy. Surg Endosc. 2008 Apr;22(4):1042-7. Epub 2007 Nov 20.

  11. Matthes K, Yusuf TE, Willingham FF, Mino-Kenudson M, Rattner DW, Brugge WR. Feasibility of endoscopic transgastric distal pancreatectomy in a porcine animal model. Gastrointest Endosc. 2007 Oct;66(4):762-6.

  12. Willingham FF, Brugge WR. Taking NOTES: translumenal flexible endoscopy and endoscopic surgery. Curr Opin Gastroenterol. 2007 Sep;23(5):550-5. Review.

  13. Yusuf TE, Tsutaki S, Wagh MS, Waxman I, Brugge WR. The EUS hardware store: state of the art technical review of instruments and equipment (with videos). Gastrointest Endosc. 2007 Jul;66(1):131-43.

  14. Moparty B, Brugge WR. Approach to pancreatic cystic lesions. Curr Gastroenterol Rep. 2007 Apr;9(2):130-5. Review.

  15. Jassal DS, Thakrar A, Neilan TG, Isselbacher EM, Brugge WR, King ME. Cardioembolic stroke in a patient with spindle cell sarcoma of the left atrium. J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 2007 Apr;20(4):438.e1-4.

  16. Matthes K, Sahani D, Holalkere NS, Mino-Kenudson M, Brugge WR. Feasibility of endoscopic ultrasound-guided embolization of the splenic vein. Endoscopy. 2007 Feb;39 Suppl 1:E3-4. Epub 2007 Feb 7.

  17. Matthes K, Mino-Kenudson M, Sahani DV, Holalkere N, Brugge WR. Concentration-dependent ablation of pancreatic tissue by EUS-guided ethanol injection. Gastrointest Endosc. 2007 Feb;65(2):272-7.

  18. Matthes K, Bounds BC, Collier K, Gutierrez A, Brugge WR. EUS staging of upper GI malignancies: results of a prospective randomized trial. Gastrointest Endosc. 2006 Oct;64(4):496-502.

  19. Yusuf TE, Brugge WR. Endoscopic therapy of benign pyloric stenosis and gastric outlet obstruction. Curr Opin in Gastroenterol. 2006 Sep;22(5): 570-3.

  20. Brugge WR. Endoscopic management of esophageal malignancy: lessons learned from gastric cancer. Curr Opin in Gastroenterol. 2006 Sep;22(5): 527-8.

  21. Brugge WR. Cystic pancreatic lesions: Can we diagnose them accurately: What to look for? FNA marker molecular analysis resection, surveillance, or endoscopic treatment? Endoscopy. 2006 38 (51):51-58

  22. Michaels PJ, Brachtel EF, Bounds BC, Brugge WR, Bishop Pitman M. Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of the pancreas: cytologic features predict histologic grade. Cancer. 2006 Mar 20. [epub]

  23. Sahani DV, Saokar A, Hahn PF, Brugge WR, Fernandez-del-Castillo C. Pancreatic cysts 3 cm or smaller: how aggressive should treatment be? Radiol. 2006 Mar;238(3):912-9.

  24. Matthes K, Sahani D, Holalkere NS, Mino-Knudson M, Brugge WR Feasibility of endoscopic ultrasound-guided portal vein embolization with Enteryx. Acta Gastro-Enterologica Belgica. 2005 Oct-Dec; LXVIII:1-3.

  25. Hull MJ, Mino-Kenudson M, Nishioka NS, Ban S, Sepehr A, Puricelli W, Nakatsuka L, Ota S, Shimizu M, Brugge WR, Lauwers GY. Endoscopic mucosal resection: an improved diagnostic procedure for early gastroesophageal epithelial neoplasms. Am J Surg Pathol. 2006 Jan;30(1):114-118.

  26. Sahani DV, Kadavigere R, Saokar A, Fernandez-el Castillo C, Brugge WR, Hahn PF. Cystic Pancreatic Lesions: A Simple Imaging-based Classification System for Guiding Management. Radiographics. 2005, Nov-Dec;25(6):1471-84.

  27. Deshpande V, Brugge WR, Mino-Kenudson M, Lauwers G. Autoimmune pancreatitis: a systemic immune complex mediated disease. Amer J Surg Pathol. 2006 (accepted for publication)

  28. Deshpande V, Mino-Kenudson M, Brugge W, Lauwers GY. Autoimmune pancreatitis more than just a pancreatic disease? A contemporary review of its pathology. Arch Pathol Lab Med 2005 Sep;129:1148-1154.

  29. Deshpande V, Mino-Kenudson M, Brugge WR, Pitman MB, Fernandez-del Castillo C, Warshaw AL, Lauwers GY. Endoscopic ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration biopsy of autoimmune pancreatitis: diagnostic criteria and pitfalls. Amer Jrnl of Surg Pathol. 2005 Nov:29(11):1464-1471.

  30. Kwon RS, Brugge WR. New advances in pancreatic imaging. Curr Opinion in Gastroenterol. 2005 Sep;21(5):561-7.

  31. Brugge WR. Approach to cystic pancreatic lesions. In: Kochman, M. ed. Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Clinics of North America: Endoscopy and Oncology. Elsevier Saunders Philadelphia 2005;15(3) 485-496.

  32. Brugge WR. Endoscopic techniques to diagnose and manage biliary tumors. J Clin Oncol. 2005 Jul 10;23(20):4561-5.

  33. Brugge WR. Approach to cystic pancreatic lesions. Gastrointest Endosc Clin N Am. 2005 Jul;15(3):485-96, viii.

  34. Ryan DP, Fernandez-del Castillo C, Willett CG, Brugge WR, Sahani D, Brachtel EF. Case records of the Massachusetts General Hospital. Case 20-2005. A 58-year-old man with locally advanced pancreatic cancer. N Engl J Med. 2005 Jun 30;352(26):2734-41.

  35. Mino-Kenudson M, Brugge WR, Puricelli WP, Nakatsuka LN, Nishioka NS, Zukerberg LR, Misdraji J, Lauwers GY. Management of Superficial Barrett's Epithelium-Related Neoplasms by Endoscopic Mucosal Resection: Clinicopathologic Analysis of 27 Cases. Am J Surg Pathol. 2005 May; 29(5):680-686.

  36. Gan SI, Thompson CC, Lauwers GY, Bounds BC, Brugge WR. Ethanol lavage of pancreatic cystic lesions: Initial pilot study. Gastrointest Endosc. 2005 May;61(6):746-52.

  37. Lee LS, Brugge WR, Poneros JM, Bounds BC, Saltzman JR. EUD-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration of Pancreatic Cysts: A Retrospective Analysis of Complications and Their Predictors. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2005 Mar;3(3):231-6.



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