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ENDOSCOPIC ULTRASOUND
34.1. Preparation
34.3. Structured examination
Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is a high-performance imaging method which combines
endoscopy and ultrasound, using small transducers placed at the end of a modified For conventional EUS examinations, the wall of the digestive tract appears to consist
endoscope. EUS is used for the evaluation of the digestive tract wall, but also of five layers with alternating echogenicity (Fig 34.1):
neighboring organs, including the performance of EUS-guided fine needle aspiration
/ biopsy (FNA / FNB) for cytology or microhistology. Furthermore, EUS can be used
for guidance or assistance of therapeutic procedures, especially for the drainage of Layers of the digestive tract by US:
pseudocysts or walled-off panreatic necrotic collections (WOPN), but also obstructed • hyperechoic layer 1 formed by the interface with the superficial mucosa
bile ducts or gallbladder. • hypoechoic layer 2 comprising the deep mucosa
The preparation for the examination can be summarized as follows.
• hyperechoic layer 3 corresponding to the submucosa
• Fasting (8h) prior to EUS is recommended to ensure that the stomach is empty. • hypoechoic layer 4 represented by muscle
Small amounts of clear fluids are allowed until 4 hours before the examination (e.g. • hyperechoic layer 5 which represents serous / adventitious
for medication is allowed).
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WFUMB Course Book 34. ENDOSCOPIC ULTRASOUND
34.5.1. Esophageal diseases Another indication for EUS staging is extranodal non-Hodgkin lymphoma, used for
EUS staging of esophageal and esogastric junction cancers should be performed the assessment of T and N staging with a sensitivity and specificity of over 85-90%,
according to the 8th AJCC staging system. EUS is considered the best staging higher than CT.
method for T and N stage, whilst (PET)-CT is used for M stage. EUS appearance
consists of a hypoechoic, inhomogenous tumor, which invades the layers of the
esophageal wall, starting from the superficial mucosa towards profound mucosa,
submucosa and muscularis propria. Accuracy for T staging is around 90%, being View enlarged image
higher in advanced stages (T3 and T4). EUS is also useful for the assessment of
N stage, as it can clearly depict cervical, mediastinal and abdominal LN, although
with variable accuracy for the differential diagnosis benign-malignant. The lower
percentages are due to poor staging in stenotic tumors that cannot be crossed, in
small adenopathies with micrometastases or large inflammatory ones, for example
in smokers. Conventional EUS criteria (size > 10 mm, round, distinct margins,
hypoechoic appearance) have low accuracy of around 80%, although only 25%
have all 4 criterias. Nevertheless, EUS-FNA increases sensitivity and specificity of
N stage diagnosis. These procedures have a high clinical impact provided that the Fig 34.2a
LN indicate metastatic disease (stage M1). EUS (with EUS-FNA for the evaluation Scirrhous gastric cancer.
of LN) represents the best option for the staging of patients with carcinoma in the Endoscopic image showing
setting of Barrett’s esophagus, being superior to CT for both T and N staging, thickened and flat gastric
especially when endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) is considered. folds)
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WFUMB Course Book 34. ENDOSCOPIC ULTRASOUND
View enlarged image Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are frequently encountered, being
mesenchymal neoplasms with uncertain malignant potential, in direct relation with
Cajal interstitial cells, and having a series of common immunohistochemical markers
(CD-117 and CD-34). EUS is the examination of choice, showing hypoechoic
formations with origin in the 2nd hypoechoic layer (deep mucosa) or most commonly
in the 4th hypoechoic layer (muscularis propria). EUS characteristics suggestive
of malignancy are: size over 3 cm, inhomogeneous appearance, irregular edges,
lymphadenopathy, metastases or ascites. The possibility of performing EUS-
FNA/FNB, with histopathological and immunohistochemical examination of cell
blocks should be considered, although the mitotic index is difficult to determine as
compared to surgical resection pieces.
34.6. Mediastinum
Fig 34.2b
Scirrhous gastric cancer. With radial EUS marked thickening of gastric wall (between Mediastinum can be completely examined by combined EUS and EBUS, allowing
markers) with partial loss of layering and a small amount of perigastric fluid are visible (1st a complete “medical mediastinoscopy”. EUS allows the differential diagnosis of
echogenic layer, internal interface echo; 2nd hypoechoic level; mucosa; 3rd hperechoic mediastinal tumors through EUS-guided FNA / FNB, including negative endoscopic
layer; submucosa; 4th hypoechoic level; muscularis propria; 5th hyperechoic level, external / transbronchial / transthoracic biopsies, mediastinoscopies or thoracoscopies. The
interface echo corresponding to serosal layer) sensitivity of EUS-FNA / FNB is higher than 90-95% and allows the differentiation of
benign (sarcoidosis, tuberculosis, leyomioma, etc.) and malignant (lung carcinoma,
Moreover, MALT (mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue) gastric lymphomas lymphoma, metastatic tumors, etc.) (Fig 34.3).
response to Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy can be assessed by EUS,
with a complementary value to endoscopy with biopsies. Thus, patients with low
malignancy lymphomas of the MALT type, limited to the mucosa and submucosa
(stage IE1, respectively T1m and T1sm in the Ann Arbor and TNM stages), View enlarged image
Giant gastric folds can be assessed by EUS, as they have several potential
causes: infectious (chronic gastritis with Helicobacter pylori, secondary siphilis,
citomegalovirus infection, etc.), inflammatory (alcoholic gastropathy, Crohn’s
disease, sarcoidosis, amiloidosis, etc.) and neoplastic (plastic linitis, gastric Fig 34.3a
lymphoma, etc.), as well as Ménétrier disease. EUS-guided FNB can be used in Mediastinal LN as shown
difficult cases for the differential diagnosis. using longitudinal EUS.
Large lymph node with a
Subepithelial lesions incude various extrinsec compressions or intramural lesions, benign phenotype (flat-oval;
including vascular lesions or benign tumors (lipoma, heterotopic pancreas, granular hyperechoic hilum) in a
cell tumors, etc.). patient with sarcoidosis
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The most important clinical applications of EUS for diagnosis of pancreatic and View enlarged image
biliary diseases are listed in table 34.1.
Table 34.1
Indication Clinical role
Detection / exclusion of bile duct stones in Recommended in guidelines, clinical
patients with low or moderate probability routine, in meta-analyses sensitivity slightly
(Fig 34.4) superior in comparison to MRCP
Biliary pancreatitis: exclusion of persistent Recommended in guidelines, clinical Fig 34.5a
bile duct stone to prevent ERCP routine Dilated intrahepatic bile
ducts (left liver love) in
Acute idiopathic pancreatitis: diagnosis of Clinical routine a patient with primary
etiology sclerosing cholangitis and
Obstructive jaundice: diagnosis of etiology Clinical routine extrahepatic bile duct cancer
(Fig 34.5) (longitudinal EUS)
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Fig 34.7a
Fig 34.6b Longitudinal EUS in a
Longitudinal EUS in a patient with a pancreatic
patient with a pancreatic tumor. B-Mode EUS shows
tumor. With Color Doppler a well circumscribed large
(CD) EUS many irregular hypoechoic pancreatic head
branching vessels are visible tumor
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WFUMB Course Book 34. ENDOSCOPIC ULTRASOUND
Fig 34.7b
Longitudinal EUS in a Fig 34.7d
patient with a pancreatic Longitudinal EUS in a
tumor. With EUS patient with a pancreatic
elastography the tumor is tumor. EUS-FNA (22 Gauge
markedly (x 126) harder needle, markers) confirmed
compared to surrounding diagnosis of pancreatic
pancreatic parenchyma ductal adenocarcinoma
Fig 34.7c
Longitudinal EUS in a
patient with a pancreatic Fig 34.8
tumor. In contrast to the Microcystic serous
pancreatic neuroendocrine cystadenoma of the
tumor shown in figure 4, pancreas (longitudinal EUS).
CD EUS shows only a few Note the multiple small and
peripheral vessels larger cysts and echogenic
septae
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WFUMB Course Book 34. ENDOSCOPIC ULTRASOUND
34.8.1. Diagnostic yield and safety Established indications Other useful indications Contraindications
EUS-guided sampling (including endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial Peri-intestinal and Solid splenic lesions Mediastinal cysts
needle aspiration, EBUS-TBNA) has not only considerably increased the clinical mediastinal LN (absolute
value of endoscopic ultrasound, but has also opened up completely new horizons, contraindication)
especially in the diagnosis of solid and cystic pancreatic tumours, the tissue Subepithelial gastrointestinal Small amounts of ascitis or Therapeutic anticoagu-
diagnosis of suspicious LN and subepithelial tumours as well as the staging of tumours pleural effusion and lation and, (combined)
lung cancer and other tumour diseases. peritoneal/ pleural nodules antiplatelet treatment
Diagnostic yield and sensitivity mainly depend on the type of target lesion, but
Solid mediastinal tumours Gastrointestinal mural Severe coagulopathy or
also on the needle type and the experience and collaboration of the examiner and central lung cancer tumors (suspicion of thrombcytopenia
and the cytopathologist. With sufficient experience, diagnostic adequate material scirrhous gastric cancer)
can be obtained in > 85% of cases. Today, cytopathologists can not only reliably
Biliary tract tumors and Adrenal tumors/ Interposition of large
differentiate between malignant and benign disease on the very small tissue
strictures metastases vessels in the needle path
samples and smears, but also further characterise malignant tumours using
immunohistochemical and molecular techniques enabling specific treatment
approaches (“targeted therapy”).
EUS-guided sampling is a very safe procedure with a total rate of adverse events Remember
below 2% and major adverse events being very rare In comparison to solid lesions,
• EUS-guided sampling is highly effective and very safe and facilitates tissue
sampling of cystic lesions is associated with a higher risk of infection and bleeding.
There are almost no absolute contra-indications. diagnosis of lesions that are not or poorly accessible to percutaneous US
guided sampling
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WFUMB Course Book 34. ENDOSCOPIC ULTRASOUND
We recommend limiting oneself to a manageable range of needle systems View enlarged image
with which all examiners and assistants should be well acquainted. Besides an
aspiration needle for standard sampling of solid lesions (e.g. 22 Gauge), an EUS-
FNB needle should be available for special indications (e.g. suspected lymphoma,
submucosal tumour, suspected autoimmune pancreatitis). An 19 Gauge aspiration
needle should also be on hand to aspirate viscous (mucinous, purulent) contents
of fluid collections. Fig 34.9a
Just as numerous studies have so far failed to demonstrate the clear advantage of EUS-FNA of a small liver
one specific needle over another, no specific puncture technique has yet been able nodule (10 mm) suspected
to demonstrate its superiority. Countless variations are practised: puncture with or to be a metastasis of ductal
without a stylet, with a fluid-filled needle, with or without suction, with few needle pancreatic carcinoma (same
movements in the target lesion or even with numerous ones. Fanning within the patient as Fig 34.7). The
nodule (between markers)
lesion (i.e. to and fro needle movements within the lesion several times at variable
is hypoechoic and hard by
angles) increases the diagnostic yield.
elastography
The way in which the material is processed depends primarily on whether you
are working with a cytologist (high-quality smears, air-drying or wet fixation) or
a pathologist (cell-block or cores for histology). An interesting alternative is to
place all the material into a preservative solution (CytoRichTM), which leaves
the cytopathologist free to examine the material cytologically, histologically,
immunohistochemically or using molecular techniques as required.
View enlarged image
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