An endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) procedure examines the inside of your digestive tract. It can detect pancreatic cancer, colon cancer, as well as cancer that's spread to other parts of your body. EUS can also detect inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), pancreatitis and other causes of abdominal pain.
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Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is a procedure to examine the inside of your digestive tract. A gastroenterologist (a doctor who specializes in the digestive system) performs an EUS.
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Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy
An EUS test combines:
Healthcare providers use EUS to evaluate or diagnose:
An upper endoscopy procedure is an EUS procedure that examines the upper part of the digestive tract, including:
A lower EUS procedure examines the lower part of your digestive tract. This includes:
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Your healthcare provider may perform endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration. In this procedure, your provider uses EUS to guide a needle biopsy to remove a small sample of tissue or fluid. The sample goes to a lab where a lab specialist (pathologist) examines it for signs of disease, such as abnormal or cancerous cells.
Your healthcare provider will tell you what you should and shouldn’t do before an EUS test. In general, you may need to:
An upper EUS test is an outpatient procedure. You’ll go home the same day. Because you receive a sedative (anesthesia), someone needs to drive you home and stay with you for the remainder of the day. An upper EUS procedure takes about 60 minutes.
During an upper EUS test, you lie on your left side. A healthcare provider:
Like an upper EUS test, a lower EUS test is an outpatient procedure. You can go home the same day. Someone should drive you home and stay with you throughout the day.
The procedure takes less than 60 minutes. Fine needle aspirations (needle biopsies) rarely take place during lower EUS procedures.
During a lower EUS test, you lie on your left side. A healthcare provider:
The sedative should wear off within 30 minutes to an hour. You may have:
These symptoms should go away within 24 hours after the test. You should take it easy for the rest of the day. You can resume work or other activities the next day.
An EUS test is a relatively safe procedure. Potential complications include:
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Your healthcare provider will review EUS test findings with you. It may take a few weeks to get biopsy results back from the lab.
When should I call the doctor?
You should call your healthcare provider if you experience:
A note from Cleveland Clinic
An endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) procedure is a safe, effective way for healthcare providers to examine the inside of the digestive tract. It is a minimally invasive outpatient procedure. Providers use EUS tests to diagnose the cause of digestive problems, cancers and cancer spread. You may also have a needle biopsy during an EUS procedure (EUS-guided fine needle aspiration) to examine fluid or tissue for abnormal cells.
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Last reviewed on 04/28/2022.
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