Dr. George Salti

Get to Know Dr. George I. Salti

Surgical oncologist Dr. George Salti specializes in the treatment of late-stage abdominal cancers for University of Illinois Health in Chicago.

He has extensive experience with peritoneal mesothelioma, along with liver, pancreatic, stomach, breast and rectum cancers.

Salti also serves as associate professor of surgery for the University of Illinois College of Medicine and director of surgical oncology at Edwards Cancer Center in nearby Naperville.

He has been performing cytoreduction and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy, also known as HIPEC, for abdominal cancers since 2001, longer than anyone else in the Chicago area.

This combination treatment has proven to be especially effective with peritoneal mesothelioma, turning the once incurable disease into a manageable one.

More than half of mesothelioma patients have lived for more than five years after the combination procedure. Some have lived 10 years and beyond.

The procedure is used most often with colorectal and appendix cancers. It also is used with certain types of ovarian and gastric cancers.

“It’s not for everyone. Patients must be properly selected,” Salti said. “But we hope that all patients are referred to a surgeon familiar with the procedure.”

Specialties of Dr. George I. Salti

• Cytoreductive surgery
• HIPEC
• Pancreatic cancer
• Appendix cancer
• Peritoneal mesothelioma
• Upper GI malignancies
• Sarcoma

Dr. George I. Salti’s Experience and Medical Education

• University of Illinois Health
• Edwards Cancer Center
• University of Illinois Medical Center at Chicago (Residency and fellowship)
• University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine (M.D.)

Awards and Certifications

• American Board of Surgery
• National Board of Medical Examiners
• Resurrection Health Care Service Award (2009)
• America’s Top Surgeons Award (2008)
• Community Service Award (2004)
• American Society of Peritoneal Surface Malignancies (Member)

Publications of Dr. George I. Salti

• Naffouje, S.A., O’Donoghue, C. & Salti, G.I. (2016, January 11). Evaluation of cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy in a community setting: A cost-utility analysis of a hospital’s initial experience and reflections on the health care system. Journal of Surgical Oncology.
• Bhagwandin, S.B. & Salti, G.I. (2015, March 20). Hepatocellular carcinoma with peritoneal metastasis treated with cytoreductive surgery plus hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy. Tumori.
• Salti, G.I., Ailabouni, L. & Undevia, S. (2012, May). Cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy for the treatment of peritoneal sarcomatosis. Annals of Surgical Oncology.
• Giannotti, G.D., Ailabouni, L.D. & Salti, G.I. (2010, October 4). Ultrasound-guided excision of nonpalpable malignant soft tissue tumors of the abdomen. Future Oncology.