Brendan C. Visser

Surgical oncologist

Assistant Professor of Surgery (General Surgery) at the Palo Alto Veterans Affairs Health Care Center and Stanford University Medical Center
4.7 out of 5
127 Patient Ratings
12 Patient Comments

Gastrointestinal (GI) Cancer Program

  • 875 Blake Wilbur Drive
  • Palo Alto, CA 94304
  • Phone: 650-498-6000
Learn More About the Clinic » Getting Here » Make An Appointment

Sarcoma Program

  • 875 Blake Wilbur Drive
  • Palo Alto, CA 94304
  • Phone: 650-498-6000
Learn More About the Clinic » Getting Here » Make An Appointment

Cancer Center

  • 875 Blake Wilbur Drive
  • Palo Alto, CA 94304
  • Phone: 650-498-6000
Learn More About the Clinic » Getting Here » Make An Appointment

Conditions Treated

Professional Education

Residency: Univ of California San Francisco (2005) CA

Medical Education: Univ of California San Francisco (1999) CA

Fellowship: University of Edinburgh; Edinburgh Royal (2006)

Board Certification: General Surgery, American Board of Surgery (2006)

MD, Univ. of Calif., San Francisco, Medicine (1999)

Resident, Univ. Of Calif., San Francisco, General Surgery (2005)

Fellow, Univ. of Edinburgh, UK, Hepatobiliary/Pancreatic Surgery (2006)

Honors & Awards

John Collins Memorial Teaching Award, Annual faculty teaching award selected by entire body of general surgery residents (2010-2011)

Patient Ratings and Comments

The Patient Ratings and comments are gathered from our Patient Satisfaction Survey and displayed in their entirety.

4.8

Friendliness

4.8

Recommended to others

4.7

Explanations

4.7

Listens

4.8

Includes you in decisions

4.8

Clear Communication

4.8

Confidence in your doctor

3.3

Wait times

SHC Patient, Nov 2014

Dr. Visser was excellent. Worth waiting for.

SHC Patient, Oct 2014

Good care was provided.

SHC Patient, Aug 2014

He is very knowledgeable, very personable & confidence puts you @ ease. Might be helpful to check in with patient before or after surgery.

SHC Patient, Jul 2014

All good.

View all 12 patient comments

Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are research studies that evaluate a new medical approach, device, drug, or other treatment. As a Stanford Health Care patient, you may have access to the latest, advanced clinical trials.

Open trials refer to studies currently accepting participants. Closed trials are not currently enrolling, but may open in the future.

Closed Trials

Laparoscopic Transgastric Necrosectomy for the Management of Pancreatic Necrosis
Worhunsky, D. J., Qadan, M., Dua, M. M., Park, W. G., Poultsides, G. A., & Visser, B. C. (2014). Laparoscopic Transgastric Necrosectomy for the Management of Pancreatic Necrosis. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF SURGEONS, 219(4), 735-743.

Getting the dead out: modern treatment strategies for necrotizing pancreatitis.
Dua, M. M., Worhunsky, D. J., Amin, S., Louie, J. D., Park, W. G., & Visser, B. C. (2014). Getting the dead out: modern treatment strategies for necrotizing pancreatitis. Digestive diseases and sciences, 59(9), 2069-2075.

Laparoscopic spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy: the technique must suit the lesion.
Worhunsky, D. J., Zak, Y., Dua, M. M., Poultsides, G. A., Norton, J. A., & Visser, B. C. (2014). Laparoscopic spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy: the technique must suit the lesion. Journal of gastrointestinal surgery , 18(8), 1445-1451.

Man with hypoechoic lesion abutting the pancreas.
Krampitz, G. W., Mills, A. M., & Visser, B. C. (2014). Man with hypoechoic lesion abutting the pancreas. JAMA surgery, 149(4), 393-394.

Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours: hypoenhancement on arterial phase computed tomography predicts biological aggressiveness
Worhunsky, D. J., Krampitz, G. W., Poullos, P. D., Visser, B. C., Kunz, P. L., & Poultsides, G. A. (2014). Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours: hypoenhancement on arterial phase computed tomography predicts biological aggressiveness. HPB, 16(4), 304-311.

Does Chronic Kidney Disease Affect Outcomes after Major Abdominal Surgery? Results from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program
Cloyd, J. M., Ma, Y., Morton, J. M., Tamura, M. K., Poultsides, G. A., & Visser, B. C. (2014). Does Chronic Kidney Disease Affect Outcomes after Major Abdominal Surgery? Results from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program. JOURNAL OF GASTROINTESTINAL SURGERY, 18(3), 605-612.

Postoperative Serum Amylase Predicts Pancreatic Fistula Formation Following Pancreaticoduodenectomy
Cloyd, J. M., Kastenberg, Z. J., Visser, B. C., Poultsides, G. A., & Norton, J. A. (2014). Postoperative Serum Amylase Predicts Pancreatic Fistula Formation Following Pancreaticoduodenectomy. JOURNAL OF GASTROINTESTINAL SURGERY, 18(2), 348-353.

Reassessment of the Current American Joint Committee on Cancer Staging System for Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors
Qadan, M., Ma, Y., Visser, B. C., Kunz, P. L., Fisher, G. A., & Poultsides, G. A. (2014). Reassessment of the Current American Joint Committee on Cancer Staging System for Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF SURGEONS, 218(2), 188-195.

Locally Advanced Gastric Cancer Complicated by Mesenteric Invasion and Intestinal Malrotation
Huang, R. J., Visser, B. C., Chen, A. M., & Ladabaum, U. (2014). Locally Advanced Gastric Cancer Complicated by Mesenteric Invasion and Intestinal Malrotation. DIGESTIVE DISEASES AND SCIENCES, 59(2), 267-269.

Gallstone pancreatitis: why not cholecystectomy?
Worhunsky, D. J., & Visser, B. C. (2013). Gallstone pancreatitis: why not cholecystectomy?. JAMA surgery, 148(9), 872-?.

Metabolomic-derived novel cyst fluid biomarkers for pancreatic cysts: glucose and kynurenine.
Park, W. G., Wu, M., Bowen, R., Zheng, M., Fitch, W. L., & Peltz, G. (2013). Metabolomic-derived novel cyst fluid biomarkers for pancreatic cysts: glucose and kynurenine. Gastrointestinal endoscopy, 78(2), 295-302 e2.

Metabolomic-derived novel cyst fluid biomarkers for pancreatic cysts: glucose and kynurenine
Park, W. G., Wu, M., Bowen, R., Zheng, M., Fitch, W. L., & Peltz, G. (2013). Metabolomic-derived novel cyst fluid biomarkers for pancreatic cysts: glucose and kynurenine. GASTROINTESTINAL ENDOSCOPY, 78(2), 295-?.

Colorectal cancer diagnostics: biomarkers, cell-free DNA, circulating tumor cells and defining heterogeneous populations by single-cell analysis
Kin, C., Kidess, E., Poultsides, G. A., Visser, B. C., & Jeffrey, S. S. (2013). Colorectal cancer diagnostics: biomarkers, cell-free DNA, circulating tumor cells and defining heterogeneous populations by single-cell analysis. EXPERT REVIEW OF MOLECULAR DIAGNOSTICS, 13(6), 581-599.

Seventh Edition (2010) of the AJCC/UICC Staging System for Gastric Adenocarcinoma: Is there Room for Improvement?
Patel, M. I., Rhoads, K. F., Ma, Y., Ford, J. M., Visser, B. C., & Poultsides, G. A. (2013). Seventh Edition (2010) of the AJCC/UICC Staging System for Gastric Adenocarcinoma: Is there Room for Improvement?. ANNALS OF SURGICAL ONCOLOGY, 20(5), 1631-1638.

Complete resection of a rare intrahepatic variant of a choledochal cyst
Salles, A., Kastenberg, Z. J., Wall, J. K., Visser, B. C., & Bruzoni, M. (2013). Complete resection of a rare intrahepatic variant of a choledochal cyst. JOURNAL OF PEDIATRIC SURGERY, 48(3), 652-654.

Hospital readmission after a pancreaticoduodenectomy: an emerging quality metric?
Kastenberg, Z. J., Morton, J. M., Visser, B. C., Norton, J. A., & Poultsides, G. A. (2013). Hospital readmission after a pancreaticoduodenectomy: an emerging quality metric?. HPB, 15(2), 142-148.

The Epidemiology of Idiopathic Acute Pancreatitis, Analysis of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample From 1998 to 2007
Chen, Y., Zak, Y., Hernandez-Boussard, T., Park, W., & Visser, B. C. (2013). The Epidemiology of Idiopathic Acute Pancreatitis, Analysis of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample From 1998 to 2007. PANCREAS, 42(1), 1-5.

Neoadjuvant Imatinib for Borderline Resectable GIST
Koontz, M. Z., Visser, B. M., & Kunz, P. L. (2012). Neoadjuvant Imatinib for Borderline Resectable GIST. JOURNAL OF THE NATIONAL COMPREHENSIVE CANCER NETWORK, 10(12), 1477-1482.

Changes in spleen volume after resection of hepatic colorectal metastases
Jacobs, K. E., Visser, B. C., & Gayer, G. (2012). Changes in spleen volume after resection of hepatic colorectal metastases. CLINICAL RADIOLOGY, 67(10), 982-987.

Lymph Nodes and Survival in Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors
Krampitz, G. W., Norton, J. A., Poultsides, G. A., Visser, B. C., Sun, L., & Jensen, R. T. (2012). Lymph Nodes and Survival in Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors. ARCHIVES OF SURGERY, 147(9), 820-827.

Preoperative embolization of replaced right hepatic artery prior to pancreaticoduodenectomy
Cloyd, J. M., Chandra, V., Louie, J. D., Rao, S., & Visser, B. C. (2012). Preoperative embolization of replaced right hepatic artery prior to pancreaticoduodenectomy. JOURNAL OF SURGICAL ONCOLOGY, 106(4), 509-512.

Failure to comply with NCCN guidelines for the management of pancreatic cancer compromises outcomes
Visser, B. C., Ma, Y., Zak, Y., Poultsides, G. A., Norton, J. A., & Rhoads, K. F. (2012). Failure to comply with NCCN guidelines for the management of pancreatic cancer compromises outcomes. HPB, 14(8), 539-547.

Sump Syndrome as a Complication of Choledochoduodenostomy
Qadan, M., Clarke, S., Morrow, E., Triadafilopoulos, G., & Visser, B. (2012). Sump Syndrome as a Complication of Choledochoduodenostomy. DIGESTIVE DISEASES AND SCIENCES, 57(8), 2011-2015.

Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors: Radiographic Calcifications Correlate with Grade and Metastasis
Poultsides, G. A., Huang, L. C., Chen, Y., Visser, B. C., Pai, R. K., & Norton, J. A. (2012). Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors: Radiographic Calcifications Correlate with Grade and Metastasis. ANNALS OF SURGICAL ONCOLOGY, 19(7), 2295-2303.

Video-assisted thoracoscopic transdiaphragmatic liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma
Cloyd, J. M., & Visser, B. C. (2012). Video-assisted thoracoscopic transdiaphragmatic liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma. SURGICAL ENDOSCOPY AND OTHER INTERVENTIONAL TECHNIQUES, 26(6), 1772-1776.

Abdominal Mass, Anemia, Diabetes Mellitus, and Necrolytic Migratory Erythema
Qadan, M., Visser, B., Kim, J., Pai, R., & Triadafilopoulos, G. (2012). Abdominal Mass, Anemia, Diabetes Mellitus, and Necrolytic Migratory Erythema. DIGESTIVE DISEASES AND SCIENCES, 57(6), 1465-1468.

Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy for Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma
Abelson, J. A., Murphy, J. D., Minn, A. Y., Chung, M., Fisher, G. A., & Chang, D. T. (2012). Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy for Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RADIATION ONCOLOGY BIOLOGY PHYSICS, 82(4), E595-E601.

Diagnostic accuracy of cyst fluid amphiregulin in pancreatic cysts
Tun, M. T., Pai, R. K., Kwok, S., Dong, A., Gupta, A., & Park, W. G. (2012). Diagnostic accuracy of cyst fluid amphiregulin in pancreatic cysts. BMC GASTROENTEROLOGY, 12.

Adult Intestinal Malrotation: When Things Turn the Wrong Way
Palmer, O. P., Rhee, H. H., Park, W. G., & Visser, B. C. (2012). Adult Intestinal Malrotation: When Things Turn the Wrong Way. DIGESTIVE DISEASES AND SCIENCES, 57(2), 284-287.

Single-cell dissection of transcriptional heterogeneity in human colon tumors
Dalerba, P., Kalisky, T., Sahoo, D., Rajendran, P. S., Rothenberg, M. E., & Quake, S. R. (2011). Single-cell dissection of transcriptional heterogeneity in human colon tumors. NATURE BIOTECHNOLOGY, 29(12), 1120-U11.

Ruptured Biliary Cystadenoma Managed by Angiographic Embolization and Interval Partial Hepatectomy
Ghole, S. A., Bakhtary, S., Staudenmayer, K., Sze, D. Y., Pai, R. K., & Poultsides, G. A. (2011). Ruptured Biliary Cystadenoma Managed by Angiographic Embolization and Interval Partial Hepatectomy. DIGESTIVE DISEASES AND SCIENCES, 56(7), 1949-1953.

Predictors of Surgical Intervention for Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Zak, Y., Rhoads, K. F., & Visser, B. C. (2011). Predictors of Surgical Intervention for Hepatocellular Carcinoma. ARCHIVES OF SURGERY, 146(7), 778-784.

Pancreatic Endocrine Tumors With Major Vascular Abutment, Involvement, or Encasement and Indication for Resection
Norton, J. A., Harris, E. J., Chen, Y., Visser, B. C., Poultsides, G. A., & Jensen, R. T. (2011). Pancreatic Endocrine Tumors With Major Vascular Abutment, Involvement, or Encasement and Indication for Resection. ARCHIVES OF SURGERY, 146(6), 724-732.

Expression of p16(INK4A) But Not Hypoxia Markers or Poly Adenosine Diphosphate-Ribose Polymerase Is Associated With Improved Survival in Patients With Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma
Chang, D. T., Chapman, C. H., Norton, J. A., Visser, B., Fisher, G. A., & Pai, R. K. (2010). Expression of p16(INK4A) But Not Hypoxia Markers or Poly Adenosine Diphosphate-Ribose Polymerase Is Associated With Improved Survival in Patients With Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma. CANCER, 116(22), 5179-5187.

Comparison of Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy and 3-Dimensional Conformal Radiotherapy as Adjuvant Therapy for Gastric Cancer
Minn, A. Y., Hsu, A., La, T., Kunz, P., Fisher, G. A., & Chang, D. T. (2010). Comparison of Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy and 3-Dimensional Conformal Radiotherapy as Adjuvant Therapy for Gastric Cancer. CANCER, 116(16), 3943-3952.

A NOVEL PRKAR1A MUTATION ASSOCIATED WITH PRIMARY PIGMENTED NODULAR ADRENOCORTICAL DISEASE AND THE CARNEY COMPLEX
Peck, M. C., Visser, B. C., Norton, J. A., Pasche, L., & Katznelson, L. (2010). A NOVEL PRKAR1A MUTATION ASSOCIATED WITH PRIMARY PIGMENTED NODULAR ADRENOCORTICAL DISEASE AND THE CARNEY COMPLEX. ENDOCRINE PRACTICE, 16(2), 198-204.

Death After Colectomy It's Later Than We Think
Visser, B. C., Keegan, H., Martin, M., & Wren, S. M. (2009). Death After Colectomy It's Later Than We Think. ARCHIVES OF SURGERY, 144(11), 1021-1027.

Development of a transillumination infrared modality for differential vasoactive optical imaging
Dixit, S. S., Kim, H., Visser, B., & Faris, G. W. (2009). Development of a transillumination infrared modality for differential vasoactive optical imaging. APPLIED OPTICS, 48(10), D178-D186.

Diagnostic evaluation of cystic pancreatic lesions
Visser, B. C., Muthusamy, V. R., Yeh, B. M., Coakley, F. V., & Way, L. W. (2008). Diagnostic evaluation of cystic pancreatic lesions. HPB, 10(1), 63-69.

Open cholecystectomy in the laparoendoscopic era
Visser, B. C., Parks, R. W., & Garden, O. J. (2008). Open cholecystectomy in the laparoendoscopic era. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SURGERY, 195(1), 108-114.

Characterization of cystic pancreatic masses: Relative accuracy of CT and MRI
Visser, B. C., Yeh, B. M., Qayyum, A., Way, L. W., McCulloch, C. E., & Coakley, F. V. (2007). Characterization of cystic pancreatic masses: Relative accuracy of CT and MRI. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF ROENTGENOLOGY, 189(3), 648-656.

The influence of portoenterostomy on transplantation for biliary atresia
Visser, B. C., Suh, I., Hirose, S., Rosenthal, P., LEE, H., & Hirose, R. (2004). The influence of portoenterostomy on transplantation for biliary atresia. LIVER TRANSPLANTATION, 10(10), 1279-1286.

Congenital choledochal cysts in adults
Visser, B. C., Suh, I., Way, L. W., & Kang, S. M. (2004). Congenital choledochal cysts in adults. ARCHIVES OF SURGERY, 139(8), 855-860.

Diagnostic imaging of cystic pancreatic neoplasms
Visser, B. C., Muthusamay, V. R., Mulvihill, S. J., & Coakley, F. (2004). Diagnostic imaging of cystic pancreatic neoplasms. SURGICAL ONCOLOGY-OXFORD, 13(1), 27-39.

Adjuvant and neoadjuvant therapy for esophageal cancer: a critical reappraisal
Visser, B. C., Venook, A. P., & Patti, M. G. (2003). Adjuvant and neoadjuvant therapy for esophageal cancer: a critical reappraisal. SURGICAL ONCOLOGY-OXFORD, 12(1), 1-7.

Safety and timing of nonobstetric abdominal surgery in pregnancy
Visser, B. C., Glasgow, R. E., Mulvihill, K. K., & Mulvihill, S. J. (2001). Safety and timing of nonobstetric abdominal surgery in pregnancy. DIGESTIVE SURGERY, 18(5), 409-417.

4.7 out of 5
127 Patient Ratings
12 Patient Comments

Patients comments are gathered from our Patient Satisfaction Survey and displayed in their entirety. Patients are de-identified for confidentiality and patient privacy.

SHC Patient, Nov 2014

Dr. Visser was excellent. Worth waiting for.

SHC Patient, Oct 2014

Good care was provided.

SHC Patient, Aug 2014

He is very knowledgeable, very personable & confidence puts you @ ease. Might be helpful to check in with patient before or after surgery.

SHC Patient, Jul 2014

All good.

SHC Patient, Jul 2014

I feel as if I am in great hands with Dr. Visser.

SHC Patient, Jul 2014

Dr. Visser & his PA and all are Life savers and awesome.

SHC Patient, Jun 2014

PA was very good. Vissar is great once he arrived.

SHC Patient, May 2014

I appreciate my care provider, Dr. Brendan Visser. The way I look at him, he is sincere, kind and understanding.

SHC Patient, May 2014

Dr Visser was so good, friendly knowledgeable and reassuring.

SHC Patient, Mar 2014

My experience was comfortable with the provider & his staff.

SHC Patient, Jan 2014

Great dr. I will recommend.

SHC Patient, Jan 2014

Great doctor! Given encouragements & hope which are importance during difficult time & recovery.