Endoscopic ultrasound in pediatric patients

Endoscopic ultrasound is becoming increasingly popular in the practice of pediatric gastroenterology. It is widely used in adults to both diagnose and treat gastrointestinal tract pathology, including, but not limited to, congenital abnormalities, submucosal lesions, cholelithiasis, malignancies, autoimmune diseases (ie, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis), pancreaticobiliary disease, and eosinophilic esophagitis. Experience with this technology in pediatric population is still limited but is rapidly growing. Certain aspects of pediatric cases require special consideration, especially differences in size of anatomy, leading to increased use of miniprobes. In this article, we will review the current role of endoscopic ultrasound in the pediatric population and highlight the published experience with this technology in children.