Endoscopic ultrasound a better tool to treat and diagnose
Gastroenterologists now have a new tool at their disposal to obtain images and information about the digestive tract and its surrounding tissues. Endoscopic ultrasonography provides these specialists with a clearer view and pathway for treating and diagnosing several conditions.
The device consists of a high-frequency ultrasound transducer attached to the tip of an endoscope. It is inserted into either the upper or lower digestive tract, where it then produces high-quality ultrasonic images of the intestinal wall and relevant adjacent organs such as the pancreas and liver.
This novel hybrid technology has created new opportunities in medical imaging. Many times, the stage of a cancer could only be determined after surgery. With EUS, physicians can accurately determine the cancer’s progression in a minimally invasive procedure.
“By being aware of this information, we can effectively tailor
the patient’s cancer treatment plan to what is most appropriate for
the type of tumor and tumor stage,” said Dr. Felix P. Tiongco, a
gastroenterologist with Gastroenterology Associates of Tidewater.
According to Tiongco, a cancer patient’s prognosis is related to the cancer’s stage when it is detected. EUS can provide information regarding the cancer’s depth of penetration and spread that then become the basis for tumor treatment.
Other uses for EUS include:
- Evaluating chronic pancreatitis and other masses or cysts of the pancreas.
- Studying bile duct abnormalities, including stones in the bile duct or gallbladder, and tumors.
- Examining the muscles of the lower rectum and anal canal to assess fecal incontinence.
- Researching “submucosal lesions” such as nodules that may be hiding in the intestinal wall covered by normal-appearing intestinal tract lining.
For more information, call Chesapeake Regional Medical
Center’s Endoscopy Department at 312-6147.
Chesapeake Regional Medical Center
736 Battlefield Blvd. North
Chesapeake, VA 23320
757-312-8121