EUS or echo-endoscopy is a medical procedure to examine the lining and the walls of the upper and lower gastrointestinal tract. The upper tract is the esophagus, stomach and duodenum; the lower tract includes the colon and rectum. EUS is used also to study internal organs that lie next to the gastrointestinal tract, such as the gallbladder, bile duct and pancreas.
Your doctor can use EUS to diagnose the cause of conditions such as abdominal pain or abnormal weight loss. Or, if your doctor has ruled out certain conditions, EUS can confirm your diagnosis and give you a clean bill of health.
EUS can be used to evaluate an abnormality, such as a growth, that was detected during a prior endoscopy, colonoscopy or x-ray. EUS provides a detailed picture of the growth, which can help your doctor determine its nature and decide upon the best treatment. EUS also can be used to diagnose diseases of the pancreas, bile duct and gallbladder when other tests are inconclusive.