Role of EUS

This is one of a series of statements discussing the utilization of GI endoscopy in common clinical situations. The Standards of Practice Committee of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy prepared this text. In preparing this guideline, MEDLINE and PubMed databases were used to search publications through 2006 related to the role of endoscopic ultrasonography by using the keyword(s) "Endoscopic ultrasound" and each of the following: "Barrett's esophagus, esophageal cancer, gastric cancer, gastric lympboma, rectal cancer, submucosal lesions, pancreaticobiliary disease, lymph nodes, mediastinal adenopathy, fecal incontinence and perianal disease, and therapeutic EUS. The search was supplemented by accessing the "related articles" feature of PubMed with articles identified on MEDLINE and PubMed as the references. Pertinent studies published in English were reviewed. Studies or reports that described less than 10patients were excluded from analysis if multiple series with greater than 10 patients addressing the same issue were available. The recommendations were based on reviewed studies and were graded on the strength of the supporting evidence (Table 1).(1) Guidelines for appropriate utilization of endoscopy are based on a critical review of the available data and expert consensus. Further controlled clinical studies may be needed to clarify aspects of this statement, and revision may be necessary as new data appear Clinical consideration may justify a course of action at variance to these recommendations. This guideline represents an updated review of the role of endoscopic ultrasonography.(2).