CURRENT STATUS AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVES OF EUS-BASED DIAGNOSIS FOR LIVER DISEASES

Abstract

With increasing recognition of Endo-Hepatology, the role of EUS in managing liver diseases has gained substantial attention. In diffuse liver disease, EUS-guided liver biopsy has demonstrated improved specimen quality through advances in needle design and suction techniques, with diagnostic performance comparable to that of percutaneous liver biopsy. EUS is also effective for detecting and obtaining tissue from small liver lesions and offers particular clinical utility when percutaneous approaches are difficult, such as in patients with ascites or lesions in the caudate lobe. Furthermore, emerging techniques, including EUS-guided portal pressure gradient measurement and portal venous blood sampling, have broadened the applications of EUS-based diagnostics. This article reviews the current status and future perspectives of EUS-based diagnosis for liver diseases.