ENDOSCOPIC ULTRASOUND

Abstract

Conventional endoscopy has allowed examination and sampling of the mucosal layer of the gastrointestinal tract. Conventional ultrasonography allows transcutaneous examination of abdominal viscera. Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS), or endosonography, is a combination of endoscopic and ultrasound technology, where the union is greater than the sum of its parts. As a result, EUS allows imaging and intervention beyond the mucosal layer of the gastrointestinal tract and its reach extends to the mediastinum, liver, adrenals, pancreatobiliary system, intra-abdominal lymphatic system, and peri-rectal tissues. EUS is at the forefront of advances in endoscopic innovation and has become a particularly indispensable tool in the staging of gastrointestinal and pulmonary malignancies.