title: Neural ganglia visualized by endoscopic ultrasound.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, MAyo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55906, USA.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Levy
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rajan
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Keeney
authors.forename: Joel G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Fletcher
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Topazian
mesh_terms: 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