The Valley Hospital is now open at 4 Valley Health Plaza in Paramus. (You may need to use 650 Winters Avenue for GPS.) All emergency care is now being provided at this location. Emergency care is no longer available at our Ridgewood campus.
An endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) procedure helps doctors diagnose cancer and other problems in the lining and walls of the digestive tract and inside the abdomen and chest.
There are two types of endoscopic ultrasounds:
EUS is a small ultrasound probe that’s attached to an endoscope. An endoscope is a thin, flexible tube with a light and camera at the end. An ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to create images of organs, tissues and blood vessels.
Doctors insert the device through the body via the mouth or the anus. EUS is performed as an outpatient procedure, which means you don’t stay overnight at the hospital.
Doctors use EUS to look for cancer, inflammation, noncancerous tumors, cysts, blood vessel problems, lymph node issues, and more.
An endoscopic ultrasound can help doctors diagnose and stage:
An endoscopic ultrasound is minimally invasive, and patients typically tolerate it well. It is a same-day procedure, and you can typically resume your regular activities the next day.
The procedure itself lasts about an hour, and you’ll have another hour or so in recovery. You should plan to have someone take you home after the procedure.
Your team will provide detailed instructions for before and after your EUS, but generally, you can expect:
Your doctor may order an EUS to look at a lump or lesion found on another imaging test like an X-ray or CT.
An endoscopic ultrasound helps confirm a cancer diagnosis and stage your cancer. It can also help detect whether the cancer has spread throughout the lymph system or to nearby organs.
During the EUS procedure, your doctor may perform a biopsy to test tissue. This is also referred to as a fine needle aspiration.
Your provider may also use endoscopic ultrasound to actually treat certain cancers. In these cases, your provider can use EUS as a way to deliver certain cancer-fighting therapies directly to a tumor.
At Valley, your endoscopic ultrasound is performed by highly trained interventional gastroenterologists. Interventional procedures use advanced imaging to guide small scopes and tiny tools inside the body. Providers use these methods to diagnose and treat complex conditions without surgery.
Our team uses the latest equipment in our state-of-the-art endoscopy suites. Most of our procedures are minimally invasive. This means we use small, if any, incisions and you can expect a faster recovery and less pain.
We work closely with surgeons and specialists across multiple disciplines. We’ll also partner with surgeons to perform different procedures at one time. Hybrid procedures can make it easier for you with fewer trips to the operating room.
