This book provides a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of current endoscopic ultrasound use in all aspects of pancreatology, from diagnosis to therapy, i.e., from tissue acquisition, with standard fine-needle aspiration and the newer biopsy needles, to less invasive techniques such as contrast-enhanced ultrasound and elastography. It also covers novel therapeutic strategies, with a particular focus on ablative treatments and lumen-apposing stents, and describes techniques developed by the editors, in particular combined celiac plexus neurolysis with pancreatic tumor ethanol ablation and elastography-guided fine-needle aspiration. All topics are developed by pursuing an evidence-based approach and several recent meta-analyses, the majority of which were published by the authors. Due to several recent advances in the field, endoscopic ultrasound has taken on a pivotal role in the diagnosis, staging, and treatment of pancreatic lesions; as such, the present volume offers an invaluable tool for staying abreast of the state-of-the-art in this field.

Antonio Facciorusso is currently an Assistant Professor of Gastroenterology at the University of Foggia (Italy). Dr. Facciorusso’s research activity focuses mainly on diagnostic/interventional endoscopy of the gastrointestinal tract and hepato-oncology. He is the first-named author of a number of scientific articles in international journals and has conducted research projects with some of the most important national and international groups, including the National Cancer Institute in Milan, Italy, and the University of San Diego, CA, USA . Dr. Facciorusso is a member of the Scientific Committee of the Italian Gastroenterology Association (AIGO). He is also a referee for the French and Dutch Cancer Institutes and serves as a reviewer for several international journals, including Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Endoscopy, and Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. Nicola Muscatiello is Director of the Endoscopy Division and Senior Lecturer of Gastroenterology at the University of Foggia (Italy). As Director of the Center of Endoscopic Ultrasound at the university, he has developed an excellent series of diagnostic and interventional procedures in the fields of digestive endoscopy and abdominal ultrasound, with a particular focus on palliative treatment of neoplastic pain by means of celiac plexus neurolysis. Dr. Muscatiello is a member of the Governing Board of the Italian Gastroenterology Association (AIGO). He has authored many scientific articles in international indexed journals; of particular note are those on celiac plexus neurolysis, colon polypectomy, and ethanol ablation of neuroendocrine tumors and cystic lesions of the pancreas. He is also one of the authors of the Italian national guidelines for the management of pancreatic solid lesions.