Endoscopic ultrasound in diagnosis and management of some gastrointestinal - pancreaticobiliary diseases at Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital

Abstract

Background: Gastrointestinal - pancreaticobiliary diseases is a major pathology relating to organs from the mouth to the anus and biliary tree. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) helps to assess deeper organs in the abdomen such as pancreas, biliary tree, lesions inside and outside the alimentary tract as well as regional lymph nodes. We proceeded this study to: (1) To examine some characteristics of patients, indications and safety of EUS, (2) To evaluate roles of EUS in diagnosis and management of gastrointestinal - pancreaticobiliary diseases. Materials and method: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 1615 patients undergoing endoscopic ultrasound at Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital. Results: Male:female ratio = 1.4:1. Average age was 56.1 ± 15.1. Patients living in Hue was 79.9%, not living in Hue was 20.1%. Indications of EUS: in biliary diseases 37.1%, in pancreatic diseases 31.3%, in stomach 11.8%, in colon 9.0%, in esophagus 8.6%, and in duodenum 2.2%. Complications rates were very low. Lesions in gastrointestinal tract: Subepithelial lesions in stomach 57.9%, in esophagus 23.7%, in duodenum 13.6%, in colo-rectum 4.8%; cancer in colo-rectum 48.8%, in esophagus 33.2%, in stomach 16.3%, and in duodenum 1.7%. Lesions in biliary tree: gallstones 76%, common bile duct cyst 9.5%, bile duct parasitic lesions 4.3%, Vater tumor 3.8%, unknown causes biliary tract dilation 3.4% and cholangiocarcinoma 3.0%. Lesions in pancreas: chronic pancreatitis40.6%, pancreatic cancer 24.6%, acute pancreatitis 18.4%, pancreatic cyst 10.9% and lymph nodes 5.5%. EUSfine needle aspiration and EUS-guided drainage of pancreatic pseudocysts: FNA for 18 pancreatic tumors, 3 pancreatic cysts and 7 lymph nodes; drainage for 4 pancreatic pseudocysts. Conclusions: Diagnostic and interventional EUS were effectively and relatively safe in assessing lesions in alimentary tract and biliary diseases, as well as supporting to achieve samples through fine needle aspiration, and to drain pancreatic pseudocysts. Key words: endoscopy, endosonography