Endoscopic Ultrasound

Endoscopic ultrasound and FNA is a powerful tool in the hands of trained gastroenterologists and is invaluable in the evaluation of pancreatic and biliary diseases, subepithelial lesions, and mediastinal lymphadenopathy and masses. EUS FNA is now the standard procedure for sampling pancreatic masses, lymph nodes, and subepithelial lesions. The ability to sample lymph nodes has extended the role of EUS to nongastrointestinal conditions. EUS is now indispensible for the staging of esophageal, gastric, rectal, pancreatic, and nonsmall cell lung cancers. Interventional EUS allows pancreatic pseudocyst drainage and celiac plexus neurolysis and blockade. Endoscopic ultrasonography is a rapidly developing and expanding field