Routine esophagogastroduodenoscopy before upper endoscopic ultrasound for non-luminal indications: clinical value and...

Most echoendoscopes are oblique viewing instruments, potentially limiting their value in mucosal evaluation during upper endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) examinations. This raises at least the potential for missed mucosal lesions. While esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) prior to EUS may mitigate this, performing EGD adds both cost and time to upper EUS. This study evaluated the utility of routine EGD before EUS in asymptomatic patients.

We performed a retrospective, single-center, cohort study including 626 patients undergoing EUS for pancreaticobiliary/mediastinal indications over a 5-year period (2017-2022). Exclusion criteria included luminal symptoms or prior upper gastrointestinal surgery. Clinically significant EGD findings and their impact on management were analyzed.

Among 568 patients who underwent EGD before EUS, 16.8% (n=95) had clinically significant lesions, including reflux esophagitis (32.7%), Barrett's esophagus (12.7%) and gastritis (17.3%). Additionally, 16.6% (n=94) exhibited findings affecting the feasibility of EUS (e.g., strictures, large hiatal hernias). Management changes occurred in 54.3% of cases, primarily biopsies (54.3%) and medication initiation (36.6%). Only 4.6% had a prior EGD within 6 months of their EUS.

Routine EGD before EUS can detect clinically significant mucosal lesions in asymptomatic patients, as well as anatomical factors influencing EUS performance. These findings support considering the incorporation of routine EGD into pre-EUS evaluations to optimize diagnostic accuracy and patient management.