Experiences in endoscopic ultrasonography at a tertiary center general surgery endoscopy unit

Abstract

Aim: Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) is used for diagnosing pathologies in the gastrointestinal system and surrounding organs. This study aims to share the experiences and results of EUS and biopsy at a tertiary center general surgery endoscopy unit, in the context of the literature.
 Methods: Patients who underwent EUS imaging at the general surgery endoscopy unit between January 2021 and January 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. Demographic characteristics, EUS biopsy indications, clinical pre-diagnoses, preoperative imaging methods, biopsy counts, and results, as well as complications, were analyzed.
 Results: The mean age of the 292 patients was 56.5 years, with 53.8% being male. The most common EUS indication was a mass in the pancreas, accounting for 62%. Endoscopic fine-needle aspiration biopsy was performed on 127 (43.4%) patients, and the mean diameter of biopsied masses was 35.1 mm. Malignancy was detected in 58.2% of the biopsied patients. Based on biopsy and lesion characteristics, 49.3% of patients were followed up, 27.4% underwent surgery, 15.4% received oncological treatment, and 7.9% were given endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.
 Conclusion: The role of EUS in the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal malignancies, pancreatic diseases, and biliary diseases continues to evolve. We believe that EUS plays a key role in the multidisciplinary management of complex surgical and oncology patients and those with pancreatobiliary disorders.