In this issue of VHJOE we are very pleased to introduce the “International Gastroenterology” section, Edited by Dr. Manoop Bhutani. The report by Drs. Ionut Gheonea and Sãftoiu illustrates the utility of elastography to guide biopsies during EUS evaluation. The authors are well known and experienced in the use of elastography during EUS for pancreatic indications¹, and their article provides the readers of VHJOE with important information on this novel technique. We appreciate Dr. Bhutani’s efforts to identify and encourage the International GI community to contribute enlightening and cutting edge articles to VHJOE.

Elastography is a method used to detect tissue strain and compressibility. Applications are broad including breast and prostate imaging for tumors, liver imaging for fibrosis, and as part of an EUS protocol. As reported by our authors, EUS elastography equipment utilizes Hitachi 8500 ultrasound system with an embedded Sono-Elastography module, coupled with the Pentax EG 3830 linear endoscope or the EG 3630 radial endoscope. Real-time EUS elastography can be performed with the conventional EUS probes.²

We recommend that interested readers review references 1 and 2, and hope that the current issue of VHJOE stimulates readers to become more familiar with this technique.

References:

1. Sãftoiu A, Vilmann P, Gorunescu F, Gheonea DI, Gorunescu M, Ciurea T, et al. Neural network analysis of dynamic sequences of EUS elastography used for the differential diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. Gastrointest Endosc 68. 1086-1094.2008 <Related link>

2. Adrian Sãftoiu, Peter Vilman. Endoscopic Ultrasound Elastography – a New Imaging Technique for the Visualization of Tissue Elasticity Distribution. http://www.jgld.ro/22006/22006_8.pdf. J Gastrointestin Liver Dis June 2006 Vol.15 No.2, 161-165<Related link>