Endoscopic ultrasound: an overview of its role in current clinical practice

Introduction Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) combines endoscopic visualisation of the gastrointestinal tract with high frequency ultrasound within the structure of a modified endoscope. The merging of these two technologies enables precise imaging of the layers of the gastrointestinal wall as well as accurate assessment of extraluminal structures, thereby facilitating therapeutic intervention. This review outlines the diagnostic and therapeutic applications of EUS, with comparisons to conventional techniques. Equipment Echoendoscopes are designed using either a radial or curvilinear array system. The format may be mechanical or electronic. The electronic echoendoscope is now more favoured as it contains no moving parts and is thus more durable. The design is essentially that of a modified gastroscope, having both optical video views as well as ultrasound capability.