Received 17 October 2008; accepted 10 April 2009. published online 06 July 2009.
Background
The knowledge of EUS use in children is limited.
Objective
We investigated the indications, feasibility, safety, and clinical utility of EUS in the management of pediatric GI, pancreatobiliary, and mediastinal diseases.
Design
Retrospective study.
Setting
Two tertiary referral university hospitals.
Patients
Consecutive children age younger than 18 years referred over a 7-year period for EUS evaluation.
Results
Forty EUS scans were performed in 38 children with a mean age of 13.5 years. The indications for pancreatobiliary endosonography were pancreatitis (n = 10), solid pancreatic mass (n = 7), cystic pancreatic mass (n = 1), cyst in the setting of chronic pancreatitis (n = 1), suspected annular pancreas (n = 1), celiac plexus block (n = 1), suspected common bile duct stone (n = 1), abdominal pain and atrophic pancreas (n = 1), ampullary adenoma (n = 1), and abnormal MRCP in a patient with jaundice (n = 1). The indications for gastric EUS were mucosal lesions (n = 2) and subepithelial lesions (n = 4). The indications for mediastinal endosonography were mediastinal masses/lymph nodes (n = 5). The remaining evaluations were performed for esophageal stricture (n = 1), unexplained abdominal pain (n = 1), unexplained abdominal pain with celiac axis block (n = 1), and perirectal fluid collection (n = 1). EUS-guided FNA (EUS-FNA) was performed in 12 (30%) cases and established the correct diagnosis in 9 (75%). EUS-guided fine-needle injections for celiac axis block were performed in 2 (5%) cases. The procedure was successful in all patients, and no complications related to sedation, EUS, or EUS-FNA were encountered.
Limitation
Retrospective study.
Conclusion
EUS and EUS-FNA are feasible and safe and have a significant impact on the management of pediatric GI, pancreatobiliary, and mediastinal diseases.
Current affiliations: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology (T.A., D.O.F.), Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology (D.G.A., K.H.), University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
Reprint requests: Douglas O. Faigel, MD, Oregon Health & Science University, Physician's Pavilion, Suite 310, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97239-3098.
DISCLOSURE: All authors disclosed no financial relationships relevant to this publication.
ABSTRACT