Linear echoendoscope-guided ERCP for the diagnosis of occult common bile duct stones.

Background: Less than 67% of patients with intermediate risk for common bile duct (CBD) stones require therapeutic intervention. It is important to have an accurate, safe, and reliable method for the definitive diagnosis of CBD stones before initiating therapeutic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Few publications detail the diagnostic efficacy of linear echoendoscopy (EUS) for CBD stones.

EUS-guided photodynamic therapy of the pancreas: a pilot study.

Background: Photodynamic therapy of pancreatic cancer by using percutaneously placed light catheters has been reported. The feasibility and safety of EUS-guided photodynamic therapy of the pancreas was studied in a porcine model.

Methods: After injection of porfimer sodium, a 19-gauge needle was inserted into the pancreas, the liver, the spleen, and the kidney under EUS guidance.