Staging and grading are indispensable in analyzing the severity of a disease, therapeutic measures and estimation of quality of life. This is the first book to give a comprehensive overview of all the relevant staging and grading references in the complete gastrointestinal field.Aimed at professionals in gastroenterology, general and gastrointestinal surgeons, pediatricians, hepatologists, basic researchers, biomedical industry, nurse practitioners etc., at any level of competence, this work includes explanatory comments, providing an ideal guide into the myriad of gradings, providing a uniquely complete overview of the field. The quality is enhanced by the careful selection of the different gradings and the exactness and correctness of the references. In the era of evidence-based medicine, there are many studies comparing different therapeutic strategies, many of which use grading and staging systems that were previously published (but are not included in the papers).This book contains all the relevant grading and scales of the field which are necessary to correctly understand these papers. Thus it serves as a valuable reference for all readers, and for all physicians setting up research trials. The many high quality line drawings, endoscopic, radiologic and histologic illustrations clarify the various items when appropriate, again underlining the uniqueness of this work.