Published online Feb 10, 2016. doi: 10.4253/wjge.v8.i3.157
Peer-review started: June 30, 2015
First decision: September 17, 2015
Revised: October 20, 2015
Accepted: December 1, 2015
Article in press: December 2, 2015
Published online: February 10, 2016
Processing time: 218 Days and 10.5 Hours
For the first several years after its development, endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) was primarily limited to identification of pancreatic malignancies. Since this time, the field of EUS has advanced at a tremendous speed in terms of additional clinical diagnostic and therapeutic uses. The combination of ultrasound with endoscopy provides a unique interventional modality that is a minimally invasive alternative to various surgical interventions. Given the expanding recommended indications for EUS, this article will serve to review the most common uses with supporting evidence, while also exploring innovative endeavors that may soon become common clinical practice.
Core tip: Endoscopy has presented the opportunity to improve outcomes and lessen complications in a multitude of diseases and disorders. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) in particular has been at the forefront in the development of novel treatment and diagnostic methods. While there have been prior articles reviewing common indications for the clinical use of EUS, the sheer volume of recent studies centered on this modality denotes an opportunity to provide an update on that information. Additionally, recent reports of using EUS with innovative techniques, such as anal dyssynergia refractory to standard therapy, warrant discussion in this forum.