Endoscopic ultrasound

Abstract

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) has become critically important for evaluating a variety of pancreatic, small bowel, and colorectal diseases. In the absence of distant metastatic disease, locoregional EUS staging of pancreatic, ampullary, and rectal cancer impacts cancer management. EUS is excellent in the evaluation of benign pancreatic lesions such as pancreatic cysts, chronic pancreatitis, and autoimmune pancreatitis. EUS fi ne needle aspiration (FNA) is especially accurate for obtaining diagnostic cytologic material for pancreatic lesions. Anal EUS is one of the best modalities for evaluating prior obstetrical trauma as a cause of fecal incontinence. Interventional EUS techniques are becoming increasingly used for therapies, such as pancreatic pseudocyst drainage, injection therapy to assist pancreatic cancer treatment, and even transcolonic drainage of perirectal fl uid collections.