Review
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World J Gastrointest Endosc. Oct 16, 2010; 2(10): 335-343
Published online Oct 16, 2010. doi: 10.4253/wjge.v2.i10.335
Role of pancreatic endoscopic ultrasonography in 2010
Ioannis S Papanikolaou, Pantelis S Karatzas, Konstantinos Triantafyllou, Andreas Adler
Ioannis S Papanikolaou, Pantelis S Karatzas, Konstantinos Triantafyllou, Hepatogastroenterology Unit, 2nd Department of Internal Medicine-Propaedeutic, Attikon University General Hospital, Medical School, University of Athens, Athens 12462, Greece
Ioannis S Papanikolaou, Andreas Adler, Central Interdisciplinary Endoscopy Unit, Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Metabolic Diseases, Charite University Hospitals, Campus Virchow Clinic, Berlin 13353, Germany
Author contributions: Papanikolaou IS, Karatzas PS, Triantafyllou K, and Adler A contributed equally to the writing of the manuscript.
Correspondence to: Ioannis S Papanikolaou, MD, Hepatogastroenterology Unit, 2nd Department of Internal Medicine-Propaedeutic, Attikon University General Hospital, University of Athens, Rimini 1, Haidari, Athens 12462,Greece. ispapn@hotmail.com
Telephone: +30-210-5832090 Fax: +30-210-5326422
Received: January 20, 2010
Revised: September 4, 2010
Accepted: September 11, 2010
Published online: October 16, 2010
Abstract

Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) was introduced 25 years ago aiming at better visualization of the pancreas compared to transabdominal ultrasonography. This update discusses the current evidence in 2010 concerning the role of EUS in the clinical management of patients with pancreatic disease. Major indications of EUS are: (1) Detection of common bile duct stones (e.g. in acute pancreatitis); (2) Detection of small exo- and endocrine pancreatic tumours; and (3) Performance of fine needle aspiration in pancreatic masses depending on therapeutic consequences. EUS seems to be less useful in cases of chronic pancreatitis and cystic pancreatic lesions. Moreover the constant improvement of computed tomography has limited the role of EUS in pancreatic cancer staging. On the other hand, new therapeutic options are available due to EUS, such as pancreatic cyst drainage and celiac plexus neurolysis, offering a new field in which new techniques may arise. So the main goal of this review is to determine the exact role of EUS in a number of pancreatic and biliary diseases.

Keywords: Endoscopic ultrasonography; Fine needle aspiration; Acute biliary pancreatitis; Chronic pancreatitis; Pancreatic masses; Cross-imaging modalities