Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) is a group of related techniques whereby an endoscope is used to place an ultrasound transducer within the gastrointestinal lumen to perform ultrasonography of the wall, wall associated lesions, and of structures surrounding the gastrointestinal tract.
Most EUS is performed under conscious sedation, and the flexible echoendoscope is inserted via the mouth or anus.
Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS)
The uses of EUS include:
Evaluation of GI submucosal masses
Evaluation and fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy of suspicious lymph nodes in the mediastinum, abdomen, perirectal areas
Evaluation and FNA of suspicious masses or cystic neoplasms in the pancreas, esophagus, stomach, duodenum, left adrenal gland, left lobe of the liver, lung masses abutting the esophagus
Evaluation of possible stones or sludge in the bile ducts and gallbladder (with fewer complications than ERCP)
Cancer staging
Lung Cancer
Esophageal cancer
Gastric Cancer
Pancreatic Cancer
Rectal Cancer
MALT (mucosa associated lymphoid tissue) lymphoma of the stomach
Evaluation of acute, chronic or recurrent pancreatitis of unclear etiology
Evaluation of anal sphincter muscles in patients with fecal incontinence
Evaluation of perirectal abscesses and perianal fistulae
Evaluation of Barrett’s esophagus with high grade dysplasia to exclude occult cancer
EUS guided placement of radiographic markers (fiducials) on malignant tumors for image guided radiation therapy EUS guided celiac ganglion neurolysis to reduce pancreatic cancer pain
