Endoscopic Ultrasound for Digestive Disease Diagnosis by Doctors at Mercy

The Institute for Digestive Health and Liver Disease at Mercy is proud to offer therapeutic endoscopy procedures, including endoscopic ultrasound, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatogram (ERCP), and endoscopic mucosal resection, in a dedicated endoscopy suite. The Institute’s endoscopists are among the best doctors performing therapeutic endoscopy procedures in the Baltimore region.

What is an Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS)?

An endoscopic ultrasound, or EUS, is a therapeutic endoscopy procedure used to evaluate and diagnose digestive disease. Using high frequency ultrasound, an endoscopic ultrasound is used to obtain detailed images of the digestive tract and the surrounding tissue and organs beyond the digestive tract walls. The images obtained from an endoscopic ultrasound often are more accurate and detailed than images provided by a traditional ultrasound. An endoscopic ultrasound takes approximately 1–2 hours to perform.

How does an Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) work?

For an endoscopic ultrasound, a small ultrasound transducer is installed on the tip of an endoscope, which also has a light and a camera at the end. Both the upper digestive tract and lower digestive tract can be examined using an endoscopic ultrasound. To view the upper digestive tract, the endoscope is inserted through the mouth. To view the lower digestive tract, the endoscopic is inserted through the anus. With an endoscopic ultrasound, the use of ultrasound enables high-quality, detailed images that are used for the evaluation and diagnosis of digestive disease. In addition, a fine needle aspiration (FNA), which allows for biopsies, can be conducted during an endoscopic ultrasound.

When is an Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) recommended?

Endoscopic ultrasound is used to screen for biliary cancer, pancreatic cancer, and pancreatitis. An endoscopic ultrasound can detect tumors in the pancreas, stage gastrointestinal cancers, and detect stones in biliary ducts.