Dr. Mary Maluccio
Surgical Oncology
Indianapolis, IN
29 years experience female
Locations
Indiana University Health Liver Oncology
Indianapolis, IN
Office
About
Bio
My clinical passion resides in the surgical and nonsurgical management of primary and metastatic tumors to the liver. This includes liver transplantation and surgical resection as well as liver directed therapies such as arterial based therapies, targeted radiation, and ablative techniques. The two primary liver cancers are hepatocellular carinoma and cholangiocarcinoma. The metastatic tumors that often involve the liver are colorectal cancers and neuroendocrine carcinomas. Both surgical and nonsurgical methods are being used increasingly more often to treat liver tumors safely.
SpecialtiesDoctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Doctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Surgical Oncology
Doctor Q&A
162 Answers
134 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Mary Maluccioanswered
29 years experience
It can be: Cholangiocarcinoma can be very difficult to treat depending on where it is located within the liver. Cancers outside the liver are amenable to treatme... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Mary Maluccioanswered
29 years experience
Dietary modification: Human nature tries to focus on possible short term remedies (1-2 days) to counter the 363 days that we treat our bodies less than perfect. The best wa... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Mary Maluccioanswered
29 years experience
Right side: The liver is central to certain functions: 1) synthesizing proteins, 2) metabolism, and 3) fluid balance in conjunction with the kidneys. When the liv... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 49-year-old member asked:
Dr. Mary Maluccioanswered
29 years experience
Yes: Substantial progress has been made in the treatment of stage IV colon cancer over the past 10 years. There are several chemotherapy drugs available an... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A male asked:
Dr. Mary Maluccioanswered
29 years experience
Depends on type: Depending on what type of cancer you have, there are often standard recommendations for treatment. Treatment can include surgery, chemotherapy, and/or... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Mary Maluccioanswered
29 years experience
Simple or biliary: Cysts in the liver fall into two categories: 1) simple cysts are congenital, can grow as the liver grows during childhood but are not likely to be sym... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. Mary Maluccioanswered
29 years experience
Yes: The three common non-cancerous liver tumors are hemangiomas (blood vessel abnormalities), focal nodular hyperplasia, and adenomas. Adenomas are not di... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 50-year-old male asked:
Dr. Mary Maluccioanswered
29 years experience
Endocrine cancer: Neuroendocrine tumors are a heterogeneous group of tumors that originate from cells that have either neurologic and/or endocrine functions. They ofte... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 53-year-old male asked:
Dr. Mary Maluccioanswered
29 years experience
There are many: Depending on where you live, there are enumerable centers around the country with talented colorectal surgeons. Surgeons who are subspecialty trained ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Mary Maluccioanswered
29 years experience
Fat within the organ: When fat deposits within the substance of the organ, it is termed fatty infiltration and may lead to symptoms associated with insufficiency. This is m... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Mary Maluccioanswered
29 years experience
Depends: Deadly will often refer to our ability to treat cancers effectively and prolong life. However, if you look at the statistics, lung cancer is the most ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Mary Maluccioanswered
29 years experience
Little: A gallbladder ultrasound is not very different from an ultrasound done during pregnancy. The gel that they use can be cold, but the test per se is not... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 49-year-old member asked:
Dr. Mary Maluccioanswered
29 years experience
Mammogram: It is always scary when a relative gets cancer. If you have not had a mammogram yet, i would recommend one. One has to remember that breast is a commo... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Mary Maluccioanswered
29 years experience
Should get checked: It is unlikely, but not impossible to have breast cancer at 18. If you have a family history of breast cancer or breast cancer has been diagnosed in a... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:
Dr. Mary Maluccioanswered
29 years experience
Food intolerance: Nausea, pain, and intolerance to certain types of food are the hallmarks of gb disease. An inflamed gb can cause fevers, vomiting, and tenderness alon... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Mary Maluccioanswered
29 years experience
Many: Problems with the liver are often associated with symptoms of nausea, taste disturbances, certain food intolerance, and pain. These will often overlap... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 50-year-old female asked:
Dr. Mary Maluccioanswered
29 years experience
Good: There are other factors involved in prognosis that depend on what the tumor looks like under the microscope. If the margin of resection was negative a... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 58-year-old male asked:
Dr. Mary Maluccioanswered
29 years experience
No necessarily: In patients with underlying liver disease, the presence of ascites is not favorable, but may be due to several things including sodium intake, degree ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Mary Maluccioanswered
29 years experience
Smoker?: Cea is a tumor marker, but it is nonspecific and can be elevated in noncancerous conditions. Smokers will have elevated CEA and the range of acceptabl... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Mary Maluccioanswered
29 years experience
Second opinion: I would start with a second opinion. Cirrhosis does increase the risk of surgery substantially, so their concern may be well rounded. There are other ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Mary Maluccioanswered
29 years experience
Yes: A complete colonoscopy reaches the most distal part of the small bowel. When the colonoscopy is being done to evaluate for small bowel conditions, lik... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. Mary Maluccioanswered
29 years experience
Yes: When you get a colonoscopy, they need to put in a moderate amount of gas in order to distend the colon and see the lining clearly. In some patients, i... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 24-year-old female asked:
Dr. Mary Maluccioanswered
29 years experience
Yes: Your symptoms can be associated with neuroendocrine abnormalities, including pheochromocytoma. 5-hiaa is a great thing to check, but is not the only m... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Mary Maluccioanswered
29 years experience
Pancreatitis: Swelling and fluid around the pancreas usually represents inflammation of the pancreas called pancreatitis. This can be a serious problem and one that... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:
Dr. Mary Maluccioanswered
29 years experience
Often: Early stage hcc is curable. There are many treatments available for hcc that have been shown to extend life. Transplant can effectively treat both the... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Mary Maluccioanswered
29 years experience
Spread beyond 1 site: Metastatic cancer has spread beyond the body organ of origin and represents stage IV disease.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Mary Maluccioanswered
29 years experience
Not necessarily: There are several noncancerous abnormalities that can occur in the pancreas. Depending on what the area looks like on imaging, we will recommend follo... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:
Dr. Mary Maluccioanswered
29 years experience
Liver cancer: Heaptocellular carcinoma is a primary cancer of the liver. Hcc is most commonly associated with underlying liver disease, such as viral hepatitis, but... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 43-year-old member asked:
Dr. Mary Maluccioanswered
29 years experience
Yes; need followup: Liver abscesses are not normal. Even when asymptomatic or small, followup is necesssary to prove resolution. A source of infection helps us feel confi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 29-year-old male asked:
Dr. Mary Maluccioanswered
29 years experience
Invasion: Colorectal cancer is a term to signify invasion accross a layer of the lining of the colon or rectum. A polyp can show abnormal features up to a point... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Mary Maluccioanswered
29 years experience
From R to L: The colon is like a horseshoe that starts in the right lower abdomen, comes up the right side, across the middle, and down the left side. As the colon... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old female asked:
Dr. Mary Maluccioanswered
29 years experience
Palliation is poss: The best palliation for hilar cholangiocarcinoma is adequate drainage of the liver with stents. These are often slow growing tumors that produce sympt... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 43-year-old male asked:
Dr. Mary Maluccioanswered
29 years experience
Probably not: There are established guidelines for screening colonscopies, including 3-5 years intervals if no polyps are found. However, the loose stools may not b... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. Mary Maluccioanswered
29 years experience
Chemotherapy: Once a cancer has spread outside the organ of origin, systemic chemotherapy is the standard of care. In some cases this will be done in combination wi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Mary Maluccioanswered
29 years experience
Needs evaluation: Polyps in the gb regardless of the number are abnormal. Gb polyps that measure 1 cm or greater increase our suspicion for cancer and removal of the gb... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 74-year-old female asked:
Dr. Mary Maluccioanswered
29 years experience
Several things: With a history of bladder cancer, recurrence would be a possibility. With a negative scope, this is less likely. Urinary tract stones, infection or pr... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:
Dr. Mary Maluccioanswered
29 years experience
Blood: The liver is the first line of defense for infection draining from the intestines including the appendix. For this reason, several types of infection ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Mary Maluccioanswered
29 years experience
May need biopsy: A lump in the breast that grows quickly is usually not cancer, but should not go unevaluated. An ultrasound +/- a biopsy would allow you to get clarif... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:
Dr. Mary Maluccioanswered
29 years experience
Colonoscopy: A negative colonoscopy is quite effective at reducing concern and therefore fear of an undetected cancer. There are established guidelines to the inte... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old male asked:
Dr. Mary Maluccioanswered
29 years experience
Dietary modification: Several things can contribute to fatty infiltration of the liver including 1) excess weight over a long period of time, 2) pregnancy, 3) diet 4) medic... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Mary Maluccioanswered
29 years experience
Poor: Unfortunately, malignant ascites regardless of the origin of the cancer is a late manifestation of malignancy. The best we can offer is supportive are... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. Mary Maluccioanswered
29 years experience
No: A colonoscopy is looking at the lining of your colon. An umbilical hernia is a defect in your abdominal wall at the level of your belly button. If not... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 43-year-old member asked:
Dr. Mary Maluccioanswered
29 years experience
Yes: There have been enumerable advances in the treatment of colon cancer over the past decade. The surgery to remove the cancer is often safe. In the even... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:
Dr. Mary Maluccioanswered
29 years experience
Ask the ACS: There are local chapters of the american cancer society that may have resources for patients who need medical attention but are unable to get it for w... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 24-year-old female asked:
Dr. Mary Maluccioanswered
29 years experience
Endoscopy: An upper endoscopy and colonoscopy would rule out two of the common cancers that would be associated with weight loss.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 24-year-old male asked:
Dr. Mary Maluccioanswered
29 years experience
Don't do it: Alpha blockade is the important component of treatment because it counters the high levels of adrenaline that are associated with pheochromocytoma.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old male asked:
Dr. Mary Maluccioanswered
29 years experience
Gallium 68: Gallium 68 imaging was popularized in europe, but is available in a handful of centers in the us. Gallium 68 has a higher resolution and is considerab... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:
Dr. Mary Maluccioanswered
29 years experience
There are others: For pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors there are other agents that have been shown to improve survival. In symptomatic patients, octreotide is used to c... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Mary Maluccioanswered
29 years experience
Fat infiltration: Steatosis is fatty infiltration of the liver and is becoming increasingly more well recognized in the us. When the fat cells irritate the liver, it ca... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Mary Maluccioanswered
29 years experience
Cancer/ inflammation: Both cancer and noncancerous inflammatory conditions like diverticulitis can cause obstruction of the colon and symptoms associated with that obstruct... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
TestimonialsRecommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
Recommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
3
Recommendations
161
Thank you notes
HealthTap member
May 4, 2018
Dr mary saved our sons life 4 years ago . We are forever indebted. Love to you Dr M!!
HealthTap member
Mar 30, 2015
Dr. Maluccio is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Maluccio is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer was very helpful! I lost my appendix, gallbladder, followed by sepsis & transaminitis.
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer was very helpful! Thank you so much for your exceptional answers
HealthTap member
This saved my life. Thank You! now I know what to do thank you very much
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, NY
Graduated 1994MD
Awards
Top Surgical Oncologist, First Place, National - Summer
2013
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