Abstract
Endoscopy is and remains an indispensable tool in diagnosing and managing liver disease
and its complications. Due to the progress in advanced endoscopy, endoscopy has become
an alternative route for many surgical, percutaneous, and angiographic interventions,
not only as a backup tool when conventional interventions fail but increasingly as
a first-line choice. The term endo-hepatology refers to the integration of advanced
endoscopy in the practice of hepatology. Endoscopy is key in the diagnosis and management
of esophageal and gastric varices, portal hypertensive gastropathy, and gastric antral
vascular ectasia. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) can be used for the evaluation of the
liver parenchyma, liver lesions, and surrounding tissues and vessels, including targeted
biopsy and complemented with new software functions. Moreover, EUS can guide portal
pressure gradient measurement, and assess and help manage complications of portal
hypertension. It is crucial that each present-day hepatologist is aware of the (rapidly
increasing) full spectrum of diagnostic and therapeutic tools that exist within this
field. In this comprehensive review, we would like to discuss the current endo-hepatology
spectrum, as well as future directions for endoscopy in hepatology.
Keywords
endoscopy - hepatology - endoscopic ultrasound - portal hypertension - varices
