Endoscopic ultrasound for the diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis

World J Gastroenterol. 2010 Jun 21;16(23):2841-50. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v16.i23.2841.

Abstract

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) has become a well accepted test for the diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis. Advantages include its ability to detect subtle and severe changes of the pancreatic duct and parenchyma, and its relative safety compared with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Limitations include inter- and intra-observer variability, operator dependence, and an incomplete understanding of its true accuracy. The Rosemont classification has recently been proposed as a weighted, standardized method that may improve EUS chronic pancreatitis scoring. This paper reviews the published evidence regarding the accuracy of EUS in chronic pancreatitis diagnosis, and enumerates the emerging technologies that have been recently studied which may ultimately improve endosonographic imaging of the pancreas.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde
  • Endosonography / methods*
  • Endosonography / trends
  • Humans
  • Pancreatic Function Tests
  • Pancreatitis, Chronic / diagnosis
  • Pancreatitis, Chronic / diagnostic imaging*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Secretin

Substances

  • Secretin