Dr. Piyush Gupta

Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS)

Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) is an advanced, minimally invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedure that combines endoscopy and ultrasound imaging to obtain detailed pictures of the digestive tract and surrounding organs. It plays a crucial role in diagnosing, staging, and sometimes treating conditions involving the esophagus, stomach, duodenum, rectum, pancreas, bile ducts, gallbladder, and nearby lymph nodes.
Unlike regular endoscopy, which allows only visual inspection of the inner lining of the digestive tract, EUS provides high-resolution ultrasound images from inside the body, giving doctors a much clearer view of internal structures.

Symptoms

EUS is not a treatment itself, but it is performed when a patient experiences symptoms that may indicate digestive or pancreatic diseases, such as:

Persistent abdominal pain or unexplained discomfort
Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
Unexplained weight loss
Jaundice (yellowing of skin and eyes)
Vomiting or nausea
Vomiting or nausea
Rectal bleeding or changes in bowel habits
Unexplained digestive tract abnormalities seen on CT, MRI, or endoscopy

Diagnosis with EUS

Producing detailed images of the esophagus, stomach, duodenum, pancreas, liver, gallbladder, bile ducts, and rectum.
Detecting tumors, cysts, gallstones, or small lesions not visible in other scans.
Staging cancers (to see how far they have spread).
Guiding Fine-Needle Aspiration (FNA) to take tissue or fluid samples for biopsy.
Differentiating between benign (non-cancerous) and malignant (cancerous) growths.

Treatment Options with EUS

Draining pancreatic pseudocysts or fluid collections.
Delivering medication (like chemotherapy agents) directly into tumors.
Placing stents in blocked bile ducts or pancreatic ducts.
Assisting in pain management for chronic pancreatitis.

Conclusion

In summary, Endoscopic Ultrasound is an indispensable tool in modern gastroenterology that offers precise imaging, accurate diagnosis, and targeted therapy—all in a single procedure. It plays a vital role in detecting early-stage diseases, planning effective treatments, and improving patient outcomes.

EUS is mainly used to obtain highly detailed images of the digestive tract and surrounding organs. It helps in diagnosing conditions like tumors, cysts, gallstones, pancreatitis, and also assists in cancer staging and biopsy through fine-needle aspiration (FNA).

No, EUS is generally not painful. The procedure is performed under sedation, so the patient remains comfortable and relaxed. Mild throat discomfort or bloating may be experienced afterward, but it usually resolves quickly.

The procedure typically lasts between 30 to 90 minutes, depending on the complexity of the case. Most patients can go home the same day after a short recovery period.

EUS is considered very safe, but like any medical procedure, it carries small risks. These include mild sore throat, bleeding (especially if a biopsy is done), infection, or very rarely, perforation of the digestive tract. Serious complications are uncommon.

Patients are usually asked to fast for 6–8 hours before the procedure. Blood-thinning medications may need to be stopped for a short time. The doctor will give specific instructions depending on the patient’s health condition.