Endoscopic ultrasound guided hepatic interventions.

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology and Hepatology
• Interventional Endoscopy
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Percutaneous interventions are standard for liver disease.
• Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) applications are expanding into liver interventions, termed "Endo-Hepatology."
• EUS offers unique advantages due to transducer proximity to the liver.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current landscape of EUS-guided interventions for liver disease.
• To highlight the evolution and potential of "Endo-Hepatology."
• To summarize studies on EUS-guided liver procedures.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of EUS-guided interventions in the liver.
• Analysis of studies detailing diagnostic and therapeutic EUS applications.
• Focus on procedures like liver biopsy, portal vein access, and tumor/cyst/abscess treatment.

Main Results:

• EUS-guided liver biopsy is a key "Endo-Hepatology" procedure for diagnosis and staging.
• EUS enables direct portal vein access for angiography, pressure gradient measurement, and sampling.
• EUS is effective for treating liver tumors, cysts, and abscesses, especially as a rescue therapy.

Conclusions:

• EUS-guided interventions represent a growing field in liver disease management.
• EUS provides a valuable alternative or complementary approach to percutaneous interventions.
• The scope of "Endo-Hepatology" is expanding, offering new therapeutic possibilities.