Endoscopic ultrasonography-related diagnostic accuracy and clinical significance on small rectal neuroendocrine neoplasms

This research aimed to examine the diagnostic accuracy and clinical significance of endoscopic ultrasonography(EUS)in the context of small rectal neuroendocrine neoplasms(NENs).A total of 108 patients with rectal subepithelial lesions(SELs)with a diameter of<20 mm were included in the analysis.The diagnosis and depth assessment of EUS was compared to the histology findings.The prevalence of NENs in rectal SELs was 78.7%(85/108).The sensitivity of EUS in detecting rectal NENs was 98.9%(84/85),while the specificity was 52.2%(12/23).Overall,the diagnostic accuracy of EUS in identifying rectal NENs was 88.9%(96/108).The overall accuracy rate for EUS in assessing the depth of invasion in rectal NENs was 92.9%(78/84).Therefore,EUS demonstrates reasonable diagnostic accuracy in detecting small rectal NENs,with good sensitivity but inferior specificity.EUS may also assist physicians in assessing the depth of invasion in small rectal NENs before endoscopic excision.

Comprehensive review on the diagnostic strategies for esophageal tuberculosis:the role of endoscopic ultrasonography

Esophageal tuberculosis(ET)is a relatively rare clinical condition,characterized by often atypical clinical features.The lack of specificity in diagnostic methods,such as esophagogastroduodenoscopy and various imaging techniques,frequently leads to misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatments.Compared to esophagogastroduodenoscopy,endoscopic ultrasonography(EUS)offers a more comprehensive examination of esophageal tuberculosis lesions,including the extent of wall layer involvement and the internal structure characteristics of the lesions.Furthermore,when necessary,endoscopic ultrasonography-guided fine-needle aspiration can be employed to acquire deeper pathological tissue,significantly aiding diagnosis.When combined with the patient’s clinical presentation,endoscopic findings,and pathological features,EUS plays a crucial role in the definitive diagnosis of ET and in the differential diagnosis process.This article meticulously reviews both national and international literature to summarize the relevant features of ET,with a focus on its appearance under EUS,and to highlight the clinical value of EUS in enhancing the diagnosis of ET and in distinguishing it from other conditions.The aim is to offer guidance for the accurate diagnosis of ET.

Are biopsies during endoscopic ultrasonography necessary for a suspected esophageal leiomyoma?Is laparoscopy always feasible?

The present letter to the editor is related to the work entitled“Large leiomyoma of lower esophagus diagnosed by endoscopic ultrasonography-fine needle aspiration:A case report.”Although endoscopic ultrasonography seems necessary in a suspected leiomyoma of the esophagus,the performance of biopsies via fine needle aspiration is controversial as it increases the risk of complications such as bleeding,infection,and intraoperative perforations.Laparoscopy is the best treatment strategy for small tumors.Laparotomy with tumor enucleation or esophageal resection can be considered in large leiomyomas.

TACC diagnosed by transoesophageal endoscopic ultrasonography:A case report

BACKGROUND Primary adenoid cystic carcinoma in the trachea(TACC)is a rare tumour.Tracheal bronchoscopy is always chosen as a routine approach to obtain a pathological diagnosis,but it can be associated with an increased risk of asphyxia.CASE SUMMARY We describe a case of TACC in a patient evaluated by chest computed tomography(CT)with three-dimensional reconstruction imaging and diagnosed by transoesophageal endoscopic ultrasonography.The pathological diagnosis confirmed tracheal adenoid cystic carcinoma.CONCLUSION We highlight the importance of CT and provide a successful exploration of transoesophageal biopsy as a safe alternative approach.

New treatment for gastric duplication cyst:Endoscopic ultrasonography-guided fine-needle aspiration combined with lauromacrogol sclerotherapy:A case report

BACKGROUND Gastric duplication cysts are very rare disease that are mainly diagnosed by endoscopic ultrasonographic fine-needle aspiration biopsy.In the past,this disease was usually treated with traditional surgery and rarely with minimally invasive endoscopic surgery.However,minimally invasive endoscopic therapy has many advantages,such as no skin wound,organ preservation,postoperative pain reduction,early food intake,fewer postoperative complications,and shorter post-procedure hospitalization.CASE SUMMARY We report a case of endoscopic ultrasonography-guided fine-needle aspiration(EUS-FNA)combined with lauromacrogol sclerotherapy for pyloric obstruction due to gastric duplication cysts.CONCLUSION EUS-FNA combined with lauromacrogol sclerotherapy provides a new option for the treatment of gastrointestinal duplication cysts.

Early endoscopic management of an infected acute necrotic collection misdiagnosed as a pancreatic pseudocyst: A case report

BACKGROUND Infected acute necrotic collection(ANC)is a fatal complication of acute pancre-atitis with substantial morbidity and mortality.Drainage plays an exceedingly important role as the first step in invasive intervention for infected necrosis;however,there is great controversy about the optimal drainage time,and better treatment should be explored.CASE SUMMARY We report the case of a 43-year-old man who was admitted to the hospital with severe intake reduction due to early satiety 2 wk after treatment for acute pancre-atitis;conservative treatment was ineffective,and a pancreatic pseudocyst was suspected on contrast-enhanced computed tomography(CT).Endoscopic ultra-sonography(EUS)suggested hyperechoic necrotic tissue within the cyst cavity.The wall was not completely mature,and the culture of the puncture fluid was positive for A-haemolytic Streptococcus.Thus,the final diagnosis of ANC in-fection was made.The necrotic collection was not walled off and contained many solid components;therefore,the patient underwent EUS-guided aspiration and lavage.Two weeks after the collection was completely encapsulated,pancreatic duct stent drainage via endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP)was performed,and the patient was subsequently successfully discharged.On repeat CT,the pancreatic cysts had almost disappeared during the 6-month fo-llow-up period after surgery.CONCLUSION Early EUS-guided aspiration and lavage combined with late ERCP catheter drainage may be effective methods for intervention in infected ANCs.

Differential diagnosis of benign and malignant branch duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm using contrastenhanced endoscopic ultrasonography

AIM: To elucidate the role of contrast-enhanced endoscopic ultrasonography(CE-EUS) in the diagnosis of branch duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm(BD-IPMN).METHODS: A total of 50 patients diagnosed with BDIPMN by computed tomography(CT) and endoscopic ultrasonography(EUS) at our institute were included in this study. CE-EUS was performed when mural lesions were detected by EUS. The diagnostic accuracy for identifying mural nodules(MNs) was evaluated by CT, EUS, and EUS combined with CE-EUS. In the patients who underwent resection, the accuracy of measuring MN height with each imaging modality was compared. The cut-off values to diagnose malignant BD-IPMNs based on MN height for each imaging modality were determined using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis.RESULTS: Fifteen patients were diagnosed with BD-IPMN with MNs and underwent resection. The remaining 35 patients were diagnosed with BD-IPMN without MNs and underwent follow-up monitoring. The pathological findings revealed 14 cases with MNs and one case without. The accuracy for diagnosing MNs was 92% using CT and 72% using EUS; the diagnostic accuracy increased to 98% when EUS and CE-EUS were combined. The accuracy for measuring MN height significantly improved when using CE-EUS compared with using CT or EUS(median measurement error value, CT: 3.3 mm vs CE-EUS: 0.6 mm, P < 0.05; EUS: 2.1 mm vs CE-EUS: 0.6 mm, P < 0.01). A cut-off value of 8.8 mm for MN height as measured by CE-EUS improved the accuracy of diagnosing malignant BDIPMN to 93%. CONCLUSION: Using CE-EUS to measure MN height provides a highly accurate method for differentiating benign from malignant BD-IPMN.

Diagnosis of subepithelial tumors in the upper gastrointestinal tract by endoscopic ultrasonography

Endoscopic ultrasonography(EUS) is the most accurate procedure for detecting and diagnosing subepithelial tumors,due to its higher sensitivity and specificity than other imaging modalities.EUS can characterize lesions by providing information on echogenic origin,size,borders,homogeneity,and the presence of echogenic or anechoic foci.Linear echoendoscopes,and recently also electronic radial echoendoscopes,can be used with color Doppler or power Doppler to assess the vascular signals from subepithelial masses,and thus permit the differentiation of vascular structures from cysts,as well as the assessment of the tumor blood supply.However,the diagnostic accuracy of EUS imaging alone has been shown to be low in subepithelial lesions with 3rd and 4th layers.It is also difficult to differentiate exactly between benign and malignant tumors and to gain an accurate picture of histology using EUS.On the other hands,EUS guided fine needle aspiration(EUS-FNA) can provide samples for cytologic or histologic analysis.Hypoechoic lesions of the 3rd and the 4th EUS layers,more than in 1 cm diameter are recommended,and histologic confirmation using endoscopic submucosal resection or EUSFNA should be obtained when possible.Therefore,EUSFNA plays an important role in the clinical management of subepithelial tumors.Furthermore improvements in endoscopic technology are expected to be more useful modalities in differential diagnosis and discrimination between benign and malignant subepithelial

Diagnosis of pancreatic tumors by endoscopic ultrasonography

Pancreatic tumors are highly diverse, as they can be solid or cystic, and benign or malignant. Since their imaging features overlap considerably, it is often difficult to characterize these tumors. In addition, small pancreatic tumors, especially those less than 2 cm in diameter, are difficult to detect and diagnose. For characterizing pancreatic tumors and detecting small pancreatic tumors, endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) is the most sensitive of the imaging procedures currently available. This technique also provides good results in terms of the preoperative staging of pancreatic tumors. EUS-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) has also proved to be a safe and useful method for tissue sampling of pancreatic tumors. Despite these advantages, however, it is still difficult to differentiate between be-nign and malignant, solid or cystic pancreatic tumors, malignant neoplasms, and chronic pancreatitis using EUS, even when EUS-FNA is performed. Recently, contrast-enhanced EUS with Doppler mode (CE-EUS) employing ultrasound contrast agents, which indicate vascularization in pancreatic lesions, has been found to be useful in the differential diagnosis of pancreatic tumors, especially small pancreatic tumors. However, Doppler ultrasonography with contrast-enhancement has several limitations, including blooming artifacts, poor spatial resolution, and low sensitivity to slow flow. Consequently, an echoendoscope was developed recently that has a broad-band transducer and an imaging mode that was designed specifically for contrastenhanced harmonic EUS (CEH-EUS) with a secondgeneration ultrasound contrast agent. The CEH-EUS technique is expected to improve the differential diagnosis of pancreatic disease in the future. This review describes the EUS appearances of common solid and cystic pancreatic masses, the diagnostic accuracy of EUS-FNA, and the relative efficacies and advantages of CE-EUS and CEH-EUS along with their relative advantages and their complementary roles in clinical practice.

Contrast-enhanced harmonic endoscopic ultrasonography for assessment of lymph node metastases in pancreatobiliary carcinoma

AIM: To assess the usefulness of contrast-enhanced harmonic endoscopic ultrasonography(CH-EUS) for lymph node metastasis in pancreatobiliary carcinoma.METHODS: All patients suspected of pancreatobiliary carcinoma with visible lymph nodes after standard EUS between June, 2009 and January, 2012 were enrolled.In the primary analysis, patients with successful EUSfine needle aspiration(FNA) were included. The lymph nodes were assessed by several standard EUS variables(short and long axis lengths, shape, edge characteristic and echogenicity), color Doppler EUS variable [central intranodal blood vessel(CIV) presence] and CH-EUS variable(heterogeneous/homogeneous enhancement patterns). The diagnostic accuracy relative to EUSFNA was calculated. In the second analysis, N-stage diagnostic accuracy of CH-EUS was compared with EUS-FNA in patients who underwent surgical resection.RESULTS: One hundred and nine patients(143 lymph nodes) fulfilled the criteria. The short axis cutoff ≥ 13 mm predicted malignancy with a sensitivity and specificity of 72% and 85%, respectively. These values were 72% and 63% for the long axis cut-off ≥ 20 mm, 62% and 75% for the round shape variable, 81% and 30% for the sharp edge variable, 66% and 61% for the hypoechogenicity variable, 70% and 72% for the CIV-absent variable, and 83% and 91% for the heterogeneous CH-EUS-enhancement variable, respectively. CH-EUS was more accurate than standard and color Doppler EUS, except the short axis cut-off. Notably, three patients excluded because of EUS-FNA failure were correctly N-staged by CH-EUS.CONCLUSION: CH-EUS complements standard and color Doppler EUS and EUS-FNA for assessment of lymph node metastases.

Endoscopic ultrasonography:Transition towards the futureof gastro-intestinal diseases

Endoscopic ultrasonography(EUS) is a technique with an established role in the diagnosis and staging of gastro-intestinal tumors. In recent years, the spread of new devices dedicated to tissue sampling has improved the diagnostic accuracy of EUS fine-needle aspiration. The development of EUS-guided drainage of the biliopancreatic region and abdominal fluid collections has allowed EUS to evolve into an interventional tool that can replace more invasive procedures. Emerging techniques applying EUS in pancreatic cancer treatment and in celiac neurolysis have been described. Recently, confocal laser endomicroscopy has been applied to EUS as a promising technique for the in vivo histological diagnosis of gastro-intestinal, bilio-pancreatic and lymph node lesions. In this state-of-the-art review, we report the most recent data from the literature regarding EUS devices, interventional EUS, EUS-guided confocal laser endomicroscopy and EUS pancreatic cancer treatment, and we also provide an overview of their principles, clinical applications and limitations.

EUS-FNA联合MOSE对提高组织穿刺活检诊断率的评价研究

目的探讨超声内镜引导下细针穿刺活组织检查(EUS-FNA)联合肉眼现场评估(MOSE)在消化道及周围占位性疾病中的应用价值。方法50例消化道及周围占位性疾病患者,应用随机数字表法分为观察组和对照组,每组25例。观察组行EUS-FNA联合MOSE,对照组穿刺获取组织不予任何处理。对比两组穿刺次数、穿刺时间、住院时间、一次性穿刺成功率、取材阳性率、阳性预测值及并发症发生率。结果观察组一次性穿刺成功率为72.00%(18/25),高于对照组的40.00%(10/25),差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。观察组取材阳性率92.00%(23/25)、阳性预测值80.00%(20/25)高于对照组的60.00%(15/25)、40.00%(10/25),差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);两组并发症发生率比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。观察组穿刺次数(3.65±0.32)次少于对照组的(4.89±0.45)次,穿刺时间(25.98±1.01)min、住院时间(5.26±0.52)d短于对照组的(35.52±2.36)min、(7.45±1.05)d,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论EUS-FNA获取组织的同时联合MOSE能有效提高消化道及周围占位性疾病病理组织活检阳性率,从而有助于临床判断疾病性质及制定治疗方案。

What types of early gastric cancer are indicated for endoscopic ultrasonography staging of invasion depth?

AIM To clarify the diagnostic efficacy and limitations of endoscopic ultrasonography(EUS) and the characteristics of early gastric cancers(EGCs) that are indications for EUS-based assessment of cancer invasion depth.METHODS We retrospectively investigated the cases of 153 EGC patients who underwent conventional endoscopy(CE) and EUS(20 MHz) before treatment.RESULTS We found that 13.7% were "inconclusive" cases with low-quality EUS images, including all nine of the cases with protruded(0-I)-type EGCs. There was no significant difference in the diagnostic accuracybetween CE and EUS. Two significant independent risk factors for misdiagnosis by EUS were identified-ulcer scarring [UL(+); odds ratio(OR) = 4.49, P = 0.003] and non-indication criteria for endoscopic resection(ER)(OR = 3.02, P = 0.03). In the subgroup analysis, 23.1% of the differentiated-type cancers exhibiting SM massive invasion(SM2) invasion(submucosal invasion ≥ 500 μm) by CE were correctly diagnosed by EUS, and 23.1% of the undifferentiated-type EGCs meeting the expanded-indication criteria for ER were correctly diagnosed by EUS.CONCLUSION There is no need to perform EUS for UL(+) EGCs or 0-I-type EGCs, but EUS may enhance the pretreatment staging of differentiated-type EGCs with SM2 invasion without UL or undifferentiated-type EGCs revealed by CE as meeting the expanded-indication criteria for ER.

Is endoscopic ultrasonography essential for endoscopic resection of small rectal neuroendocrine tumors?

AIM To evaluate the importance of endoscopic ultrasonography(EUS) for small(≤ 10 mm) rectal neuroendocrine tumor(NET) treatment.METHODS Patients in whom rectal NETs were diagnosed by endoscopic resection(ER) at the Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital between 2008 and 2014 were included in this study. A total of 120 small rectal NETs in 118 patients were included in this study. Histologic features and clinical outcomes were analyzed, and the findings of endoscopy, EUS and histology were compared. RESULTS The size measured by endoscopy was not significantly different from that measured by EUS and histology(r = 0.914 and r = 0.727 respectively). Accuracy for the depth of invasion was 92.5% with EUS. No patients showed invasion of the muscularis propria or metastasis to the regional lymph nodes. All rectal NETswere classified as grade 1 and demonstrated an L-cell phenotype. Mean follow-up duration was 407.54 ± 374.16 d. No patients had local or distant metastasis during the follow-up periods. CONCLUSION EUS is not essential for ER in the patient with small rectal NETs because of the prominent morphology and benign behavior.

endoscopic ultrasonography-guided biliary drainage:Who,when,which,and how?

Both endoscopic ultrasonography(EUS)-guided choledochoduodenostomy( EUS- CDS) and EUS-guided hepaticogastrostomy(EUS-HGS) are relatively well established as alternatives to percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage(PTBD). Both EUSCDS and EUS-HGS have high technical and clinical success rates(more than 90%) in high-volume centers. Complications for both procedures remain high at 10%-30%. Procedures performed by endoscopists who have done fewer than 20 cases sometimes result in severe or fatal complications. When learning EUSguided biliary drainage(EUS-BD), we recommend a mentor's supervision during at least the first 20 cases. For inoperable malignant lower biliary obstruction, a skillful endoscopist should perform EUS-BD before EUS-guided rendezvous technique(EUS-RV) and PTBD. We should be select EUS-BD for patients having altered anatomy from malignant tumors before balloon-enteroscope-assisted endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, EUS-RV, and PTBD. If both EUS-CDS and EUS-HGS are available, we should select EUS-CDS, according to published data. EUSBD will potentially become a first-line biliary drainage procedure in the near future.

A new endoscopic ultrasonography image processing method to evaluate the prognosis for pancreatic cancer treated with interstitial brachytherapy

AIM:To develop a fuzzy classification method to score the texture features of pancreatic cancer in endoscopic ultrasonography(EUS)images and evaluate its utility in making prognosis judgments for patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer treated by EUS-guided interstitial brachytherapy.METHODS:EUS images from our retrospective database were analyzed.The regions of interest were drawn,and texture features were extracted,selected,and scored with a fuzzy classification method using a C++program.Then,patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer were enrolled to receive EUS-guided iodine 125 radioactive seed implantation.Their fuzzy classification scores,tumor volumes,and carbohydrate antigen 199(CA199)levels before and after the brachytherapy were recorded.The association between the changes in these parameters and overall survival was analyzed statistically.RESULTS:EUS images of 153 patients with pancreatic cancer and 63 non-cancer patients were analyzed.A total of 25 consecutive patients were enrolled,and they tolerated the brachytherapy well without any complications.There was a correlation between the change in the fuzzy classification score and overall survival(Spearman test,r=0.616,P=0.001),whereas no correlation was found to be significant between the change in tumor volume(P=0.663),CA199 level(P=0.659),and overall survival.There were 15 patients with a decrease in their fuzzy classification score after brachytherapy,whereas the fuzzy classification score increased in another 10 patients.There was a significant difference in overall survival between the two groups(67 d vs 151 d,P=0.001),but not in the change of tumor volume and CA199 level.CONCLUSION:Using the fuzzy classification method to analyze EUS images of pancreatic cancer is feasible,and the method can be used to make prognosis judgments for patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer treated by interstitial brachytherapy.

Biliary and pancreatic stenting:Devices and insertiontechniques in therapeutic endoscopic retrogradecholangiopancreatography and endoscopic ultrasonography

Stents are tubular devices made of plastic or metal. Endoscopic stenting is the most common treatment for obstruction of the common bile duct or of the main pancreatic duct, but also employed for the treatment of bilio-pancreatic leakages, for preventing post- endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis and to drain the gallbladder and pancreatic fluid collections. Recent progresses in techniques of stent insertion and metal stent design are represented by new, fullycovered lumen apposing metal stents. These stents are specifically designed for transmural drainage, with a saddle-shape design and bilateral flanges, to provide lumen-to-lumen anchoring, reducing the risk of migration and leakage. This review is an update of the technique of stent insertion and metal stent deployment, of the most recent data available on stent types and characteristics and the new applications for biliopancreatic stents.

Endoscopic ultrasonography-guided drainage for patients with symptomatic obstruction and enlargement of the pancreatic duct

AIM: To evaluate the use of translumenal pancreatography with placement of endoscopic ultrasonography(EUS)-guided drainage of the pancreatic duct.METHODS: This study enrolled all consecutive patients between June 2002 and April 2014 who underwent EUSguided pancreatography and subsequent placement of a drain and had symptomatic retention of fluid in the pancreatic duct after one or more previous unsuccessful attempts at endoscopic retrograde cannulation of the pancreatic duct. In all,94 patients underwent 111 interventions with one of three different approaches:(1) EUS-endoscopic retrograde drainage with a rendezvous technique;(2) EUS-guided drainage of the pancreatic duct; and(3) EUS-guided,internal,antegrade drainage of the pancreatic duct.RESULTS: The mean duration of the interventions was 21 min(range,15-69 min). Mean patient age was 54 years(range,28-87 years); the M:F sex ratio was 60:34. The technical success rate was 100%,achieving puncture of the pancreatic duct including pancreatography in 94/94 patients. In patients requiring drainage,initial placement of a drain wassuccessful in 47/83 patients(56.6%). Of these,26 patients underwent transgastric/transbulbar positioning of a stent for retrograde drainage; plastic prostheses were used in 11 and metal stents in 12. A ring drain(antegrade internal drainage) was placed in three of these 26 patients because of anastomotic stenosis after a previous surgical intervention. The remaining 21 patients with successful drain placement had transpapillary drains using the rendezvous technique; the majority(n = 19) received plastic prostheses,and only two received metal stents(covered self-expanding metal stents). The median follow-up time in the 21 patients with transpapillary drainage was 28 mo(range,1-79 mo),while that of the 26 patients with successful transgastric/transduodenal drainage was 9.5 mo(range,1-82 mo). Clinical success,as indicated by reduced or absence of further pain after the EUS-guided intervention was achieved in 68/83 patients(81.9%),including several who improved without drainage,but with manipulation of the access route.CONCLUSION: EUS-guided drainage of the pancreatic duct is a safe,feasible alternative to endoscopic retrograde drainage when the papilla cannot be reached endoscopically or catheterized.

Current status and future applications of contrast-enhanced endoscopic ultrasonography

Endoscopic ultrasonography(EUS) is currently an in-tegral investigation of many gastrointestinal disorders.It has been shown to have a higher efficacy thanconventional computed tomography in detection andcharacterization of small lesions especially in the pan-creas. Much effort has been put to further improvethe sensitivity, specificity and overall accuracy of EUS.One of the major advances is the utilization of contrastagents for better delineation of the vascularity and tis-sue perfusion of the target lesion. This article describesthe basic principles of ultrasound contrast agents andthe different modalities used in contrast-enhanced EUS(CE-EUS) including contrast-enhanced Doppler EUS(CED-EUS) and contrast-enhanced harmonic EUS(CEH-EUS). In addition, the current applications of contrastenhanced EUS in different gastrointestinal conditionswere discussed. Furthermore, the future developmentof hybrid approaches combining CE-EUS with other im-aging modalities and the potential therapeutic aspectof using it as a vector for drug delivery were also dis-cussed.

Utility of endoscopic ultrasound and endoscopy in diagnosis and management of hepatocellular carcinoma and its complications: What does endoscopic ultrasonography offer above and beyond conventional cross-sectional imaging?

Hepatocellular carcinoma constitutes over 90% of the primary liver tumors, the rest being cholangiocarcinoma. It has an insidious presentation, which is responsible for the delayed presentation. Hence, the management strategy relies on screening to diagnose it an early stage for curative resection and/or treatment with local ablative techniques or chemotherapy. However, even with different screening programs, more than 60% of tumors are still detected at an advanced stage, leading to an unchanged mortality rate, thereby implying a room for improvement in the screening and diagnostic process. In the last few years, there has been evolution of utility of endoscopy, specifically endoscopic ultrasonography along with Fine needle aspiration, for this purpose, which we comprehensively review in this article.