title: Usefulness of endoscopic ultrasonography in hepatology.
abstract: Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) is used to evaluate patients with hepatobiliary diseases. The technique is useful for the diagnosis of esogastric varices in selected cases of portal hypertension, and to evaluate the pathogenic role and prognostic value of the collateral circulation in patients with this condition. When coupled with the Doppler technique, EUS can be used to guide injection sclerotherapy and to verify the obliteration of varices (particularly fundal varices) after endoscopic treatment. Hemodynamic changes induced in the collateral circulation by vasoactive drugs can also be measured with Doppler-EUS. Fine-needle aspiration under EUS guidance is useful in the diagnosis of focal liver lesions and perihepatic adenopathy, and in the evaluation of biliary tract diseases. New indications can be developed in the future after adequate experimental validation.
authors: Centre Hospitalier de l'Universite de Montreal, Montreal, Quebec.
authors: Julien
authors: J
authors: Bissonnette
authors: Sarto
authors: S
authors: Paquin
authors: Anand
authors: A
authors: Sahai
authors: Gilles
authors: G
authors: Pomier-Layrargues
mesh_terms: D001660:Biliary Tract Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle / Q000379:methods; D003097:Collateral Circulation; D019160:Endosonography / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004932:Esophageal and Gastric Varices / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D015911:Sclerotherapy / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color / Q000379:methods