The University of Arizona Hepatopancreatobiliary Program specializes in the complex and often interrelated treatment of malignant and benign diseases of the liver, pancreas and biliary tract.
We provide multidisciplinary, compassionate, personalized, state of the art care to patients with complex hepatobiliary and pancreatic disease, and we care for the “whole patient” helping them navigate their journey across the continuum of care.
At Banner – University Medical Center Tucson, our HPB team performs 80-100 pancreatic resections (whipples and distal pancreatic resections) and 50 liver resections annually, making us the highest volume pancreatic center in Arizona and one of the highest in the country. We also have a robust surveillance program for patients with pancreatic cystic lesions; provide comprehensive care for patients with acute and chronic pancreatitis; and treat other upper GI and complex GI malignancies starting at the time of diagnosis and continuing beyond surgery through all phases of care.
Our highly trained multidisciplinary HPB team includes interventional gastroenterologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, interventional radiologists, pathologists, radiologists, and palliative care specialists. Our team provides comprehensive care for patients with neuroendocrine tumors, gastrointestinal stromal tumors, gastric cancers, periampullary cancers, duodenal cancers, pancreatic cancers, biliary cancers, primary liver cancers, cancers metastatic to the liver, ampullary cancers, pancreatic cystic neoplasms, acute pancreatitis, and chronic pancreatitis.
Alongside our extensive experience in breast, colorectal, endocrine, and plastic surgery, our HPB surgeons are proud to provide the following services:
- Pancreatic resection (whipple, distal pancreatectomy)*
- Pancreatic resection and drainage for chronic pancreatitis management
- Pancreatic necrosectomy and cystenterostomy for acute pancreatitis complications
- Complex biliary surgery* (choledochal cyst excision, transduodenal sphincteroplasty)
- Complex upper GI malignancies* (gastric cancer, periampullary cancer, GIST, neuroendocrine tumors, and small bowel cancer)
- Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) for cancer within the peritoneal cavity
- Radiofrequency and microwave ablation*
- Bile duct resection for cancer
- Bile duct reconstruction after bile duct injury
- Bile duct exploration for stone disease
- Liver resection*
- Liver transplant evaluation for appropriate liver cancers (our transplant surgeons are highly specialized in this area)
*Open and minimally invasive procedures available.
Excellence in Pancreatic Care
Banner - University Medical Center Tucson earns pancreas designation
Banner – University Medical Center Tucson has been recognized as an approved National Pancreas Foundation Center (NPF) of Excellence by the National Pancreas Foundation. Banner – University Medical Center Tucson earned clinical and academic Center of Excellence designations for both pancreatic cancer and pancreatitis.
Surviving Pancreatic Cancer
A routine scan of Charles Broder’s heart valve revealed cysts on his pancreas. Initial tests showed the cysts were cancer-free. But, because of Dr. Riall’s experience and expertise, she decided to test nearby lymph nodes too, and cancer was detected.
After treatment and chemotherapy at the University of Arizona Cancer Center, Charles is back to cycling 50 miles per day.
Meet our Providers
Taylor S. Riall, MD, PhD, FACS, is a professor in the Department of Surgery. She is the associate director of the University of Arizona Cancer Center and the co-director of the Oncology Service Line at Banner - University Medical Center Tucson. Her clinical expertise is in pancreaticobiliary surgery, including pancreatic and periampullary cancer, acute and chronic pancreatitis, gallstone disease, gastrointestinal cancer, and general surgery. Of the 90-100 pancreatic resections typically done per year at the University of Arizona Cancer Center, Dr. Riall personally performs about half of these.
Mohammad Khreiss, MD, FACS, FSSO, is a clinical associate professor with the Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, within the University of Arizona College of Medicine - Tucson. Dr. Khreiss completed two fellowships at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in surgical oncology and hepato-pancreato-biliary surgery. He specializes in the treatment of patients with cancers of the pancreas, liver, biliary system, and stomach, with the goal of providing up-to-date, multidisciplinary, and comprehensive care to his patients. He has extensive training in the field of minimally invasive surgery.
Lusine Mesropyan, DO, MA, is a clinical assistant professor in the Division of Surgical Oncology. Dr. Mesropyan is board certified in general surgery and fellowship trained in hepato-pancreato-biliary surgery. Prior to joining the College of Medicine – Tucson, Dr. Mesropyan led the Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery program at the Conemaugh Health System in Pennsylvania. She completed general surgery residency at Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Following residency, she completed a hepato-pancreato-biliary surgery fellowship at Florida Hospital in Orlando.
Carrie Luu, MD, FACS, is a clinical assistant professor with the Department of Surgery in the Division of Surgical Oncology. She specializes in hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) and is the only provider of this service in Tucson. Following her residency, Dr. Luu completed her fellowship training in complex general surgical oncology at Moffitt Cancer Center in Florida. She has published in PLoS One, the Journal of Gastrointestinal Oncology and JAMA Oncology. She is a member of the American College of Surgeons, Society of Surgical Oncology, Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, Association of Women Surgeons, and Americas Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association.
Make an Appointment:
(520) 694-CURE (2873).