Original Article	Endoscopy 2004; 36: 972-975 DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-825867
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York
Pancreatic Endosonography after Billroth II Gastrectomy
J.  H.  Lee1, M.  Topazian2
1 Section of Digestive Diseases, Dept. of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA 2 Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Dept. of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA

Background and Study Aims: Prior Billroth II gastrectomy is considered a relative contraindication to endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) of the pancreatic head. This study reviews experience with pancreatic EUS in such patients.
Patients and Methods: Eleven patients were identified who had previous Billroth II gastrectomy and underwent attempted pancreatic EUS.
Results: Examination of the pancreatic head was technically feasible in 10 of the patients. The inferior pancreatic head, ampulla, and periampullary ducts were seen in all; the superior pancreatic head and porta hepatis were visualized in 50 % of cases with radial echo endoscopes and 100 % with a linear-array echo endoscope. The pancreatic neck was fully imaged in 25 % of cases with radial echo endoscopes and in 60 % with a linear-array echo endoscope. One known pancreatic neck mass was not visualized.
Conclusions: Pancreatic EUS is technically feasible in most patients with a prior Billroth II gastrectomy. Linear-array echo endoscopes provide a more complete examination than radial echo endoscopes. The pancreatic neck may be difficult to visualize.