Published online Feb 7, 2016. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v22.i5.1756
Peer-review started: May 6, 2015
First decision: September 29, 2015
Revised: October 21, 2015
Accepted: December 14, 2015
Article in press: December 14, 2015
Published online: February 7, 2016
Core tip: Beyond staging rectal cancer, an already established endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) indication, novel applications for colorectal diseases are under investigation, including the possibility of staging tumours throughout the entire colon with the recently developed forward-viewing radial echoendoscope. Contrast-enhanced EUS may be used for the characterization and the prognostic assessment in both colorectal tumours and inflammatory bowel disease, while EUS elastography could enhance the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant colorectal lesions, pending on further studies. EUS-guided therapeutic procedures include drainage of abdomino-pelvic collections and other experimental procedures, such as insertion of fiducial markers and targeted microbubble drug delivery, which will be also reviewed.