Neural ganglia visualized by endoscopic ultrasound.
OBJECTIVE
To describe visualization of gastrointestinal neural ganglia by endoscopic ultrasound (EUS).


METHODS
We retrospectively identified patients in whom neural ganglia were visualized during EUS and the diagnosis of ganglion confirmed by EUS guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology.


RESULTS
Ten patients were identified. Celiac ganglia were visualized in nine, and a perirectal ganglion was visualized in one. Ganglia appeared as discrete hypoechoic structures, often with associated hypoechoic threads that may represent neural rami. Aspiration of ganglia yielded scant material and caused transient pain. Ganglia were best visualized with linear array echoendoscopes. Celiac ganglia (but not the perirectal ganglion) were retrospectively identified on computed tomography scans.


CONCLUSIONS
Gastrointestinal neural ganglia can be imaged by EUS and their identity confirmed by EUS FNA.
Levy
Michael
M
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, MAyo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55906, USA.
Rajan
Elizabeth
E
Keeney
Gary
G
Fletcher
Joel G
JG
Topazian
Mark
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; D019160:Endosonography; D005260:Female; D005728:Ganglia, Sympathetic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000294:innervation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies