Being a relatively new diagnostic tool the uses for
EUS are still being developed and, presently, it is
being utilized in some of the following situations:
Staging of cancers of the esophagus, stomach,
pancreas and rectum.
Staging of lung cancer.
Evaluating chronic pancreatitis and other masses or
cysts of the pancreas.
Studying bile duct abnormalities including stones in
the bile duct or gallbladder, or bile duct, gallbladder, or liver tumors.
Studying the muscles of the lower rectum and anal
canal in evaluating reasons for fecal incontinence.
Studying 'submucosal lesions' such as nodules or
'bumps' that may be hiding in the intestinal wall covered
by normal appearing lining of the intestinal tract.
Staging of cancer is becoming an important use of
EUS. The prognosis of a cancer victim is related to
the stage of the cancer at the time of cancer detection.
For example, early stage colon cancer refers to cancer
confined to the inner surface of the colon before it is
spread to adjacent tissues or distant organs. Therefore
early stage colon cancer can be completely resected with
good chances for cure. However, if cancer is detected at
later stages, the cancer tissues have already penetrated
the colon wall and invaded neighboring organs and lymph
nodes, or have spread to distant organs such as liver and
lungs. Complete surgical excision becomes highly unlikely.
EUS can provide information regarding the depth of
penetration of the cancer and spread of cancer to adjacent
tissues and lymph nodes, information useful for staging.
Your doctor will
want to know about your health status especially if you
have any allergies, other significant health problems such
as heart disease, lung disease, diabetes mellitus, etc.You
will also be inquired about allergies to iodine
or shellfish as, under certain circumstances, iodine containing
contrast material may be used. If there
is a possibility of fine needle aspiration (FNA), the doctor
will want to check your blood for proper clotting. It is
important to inform your doctor of any family history of
bleeding problems or if you are taking medications that
interfere with blood clotting (such as Coumadin) or
platelet function (such as aspirin, Motrin, ibuprofen,
Aleve, and other NSAIDs). The wisest is to inform you
doctor of any prescription or non-prescription medication
you might be taking. Antibiotics are usually not required
except in patients with certain heart valve problems.
EUS is performed with sedation so you will not be
able to return to work or to drive for 24 hours. It also
means that you will need someone to take you home as this
is usually an out-patient procedure.
You will need to have an empty stomach that means no
oral intake for 6 or more hours. In case of a rectal EUS
you will probably need to take some enemas or
laxatives. In either case, full instructions will be given
to you.
Abdominal pain is pain in the belly and can be acute or chronic. Causes include inflammation, distention of an organ, and loss of the blood supply to an organ. Abdominal pain can reflect a major problem with one of the organs in the abdomen such as the appendix, gallbladder, large and small intestine, pancreas, liver, colon, duodenum, and spleen.
Lung cancer kills more men and women than any other form of cancer. Eight out of 10 lung cancers are due
to tobacco smoke. Lung cancers are classified as either small cell or non-small
cell cancers.
Gallstones are stones that form when substances in the bile harden. Gallstones (formed in the gallbladder) can be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a golf ball. There can be just one large stone, hundreds of tiny stones, or any combination. The majority of gallstones do not cause symptoms.
Liver cancer is the fifth most common cancer in the world and the majority of patients with liver cancer will die within one year as a result. Patients with associated cirrhosis caused by chronic hepatitis B or C infections, alcohol, and hemochromatosis are at the greatest risk of developing liver cancer. Many patients with liver cancer do not develop symptoms until the advanced stages of the tumor which usually makes prognosis poor. The combination of an imaging study (ultrasound, CT, or MRI scans) and an elevated blood level of alpha-fetoprotein will most effectively diagnose liver cancer, while a liver biopsy can make a definitive diagnosis. Medical treatments, including chemotherapy, chemoembolization, ablation, and proton beam therapy, are not very effective. Surgical removal of the tumor or a liver transplant may be most effective in certain cases.
Pancreatic cancer is a malignant tumor of the pancreas. Pancreatic cancer has been called a "silent" disease because early pancreatic cancer usually does not cause symptoms.
Colon cancer is a malignancy that arises from the inner lining of the colon. Most, if not all, of these cancers develop from colonic polyps. Removal of these precancerous polyps can prevent colon cancer.
Though the cause of stomach cancer is unknown, risk factors for stomach cancer include diet, H. pylori infection, smoking age, gastritis, stomach surgery, family history, and pernicious anemia. Symptoms include stomach discomfort, feeling full after a small meal, nausea and vomiting, and weight loss. Treatment depends upon staging and may involve surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy.
Pancreatitis is a rare disease in which the pancreas becomes inflamed, occurring when digestive enzymes are activated and begin attacking the pancreas causing damage to the gland. There are two types of pancreatitis, acute and chronic. Most commonly caused by alcohol or gallstones, it can lead to bleeding in the gland, serious tissue damage, infection, and cysts. Enzymes and toxins may then enter the bloodstream and seriously injure organs, such as the heart, lungs, and kidney.
Esophageal cancer is a disease in which malignant cells form in the esophagus. Risk factors of cancer of the esophagus include smoking, heavy alcohol use, Barrett's esophagus, being male and being over age 60. Severe weight loss, vomiting, hoarseness, coughing up blood, painful swallowing, and pain in the throat or back are symptoms. Treatment depends upon the size, location and staging of the cancer and the health of the patient.
Gallbladder (gall bladder) pain can be caused by gallbladder disease such as gallstones or cholecystitis. Causes of gallbladder pain can be caused from biliary colic. Biliary colic is pain caused by gallstones trapped in the bile ducts. Cholecystitis is inflammation of the
gallbladder. Symptoms of gallbladder disease include nausea, vomiting, abdominal bloating and belching, sweating, and shortness of breath. Treatment of gallbladder pain depends on the cause.
Digestion is the complex process of turning food you eat into the energy you need to survive. The digestive process also involves creating waste to be eliminated, and is made of a series of muscles that coordinate the movement of food.
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