Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Bases and Generalities of Ultrasound Endoscopy I
Other languages of instruction: English, Spanish,
Teaching staff
For specific questions regarding course content, exercises, assessment activities, etc.:
- Course Coordinator: Dr Joan B. Gornals - jbgornals@uic.es
For general questions regarding the programme, enrolment, payments, etc.:
- Master’s Programme Office: Sonia Sánchez - mastersmedicina@uic.es
Introduction
The healthcare services sector in the 21st century is one of the fields undergoing the most significant changes and innovation. Technological advances are particularly noteworthy, with the incorporation of specific applications aimed at improving diagnostic imaging, minimally invasive interventions, therapeutic procedures, and healthcare management.
Endoscopic Ultrasonography (EUS), as a diagnostic, interventional, and therapeutic procedure, is one of these major advances. The emergence of this advanced digestive endoscopy technique has created a significant training challenge within the medical community. Learning this technique requires knowledge from different medical specialties, including gastroenterology, oncology, general and digestive surgery, and radiology, as well as specific training in echo-anatomy and practical sessions in a recognised referral unit under the supervision of an experienced mentor.
International guidelines, including the European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) and the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE), discourage self-directed learning and recommend training rotations in referral centres and participation in specialised courses. However, the availability of specific training courses in EUS remains limited.
Therefore, the development and design of specialised training courses in EUS is justified in order to provide an academic response to the growing demand for training in this endoscopic technique, which involves a demanding learning curve.
Pre-course requirements
There are no prerequisites.
Objectives
To acquire the theoretical and practical foundations of the basic principles —including the key pillars and techniques— required to perform EUS effectively and safely, through the teaching materials provided or recommended for physicians who wish to take a step forward in their specialisation and professional development in this advanced digestive endoscopy technique.
Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme
- Acquire basic knowledge of the EUS technique: indications, limitations, and associated medical conditions.
- Interpret EUS images and develop clinical judgment. Engage in direct interaction and discussion with EUS experts.
- Begin practical training in EUS and apply the knowledge acquired through in-person seminars and live cases.
Learning outcomes of the subject
The study and understanding of the basic principles of EUS are essential and fundamental in order to understand the remaining subjects. Through this course, the student will be able to:
i) Understand and interpret ultrasonographic imaging artefacts, which are necessary to correctly determine the EUS semiology of lesions.
ii) Identify the different types of probes, echoendoscopes, and associated materials.
iii) Gain an introduction to basic and advanced echo-anatomy applied to EUS through the recognition of basic structures and the identification of EUS stations.
iv) Write a complete EUS report.
Syllabus
This course is equivalent to 4 ECTS credits and is delivered online from 26/10/2026 to 15/11/2026.
- History of endoscopic ultrasonography.
- Basic and technical principles.
- Equipment: probes and endoscopes.
- Training in endoscopic ultrasonography and echo-anatomy.
- Endoscopic ultrasonography report.
Teaching and learning activities
Online
The course methodology consists of students reading all the teaching materials provided for the course and completing the corresponding assessed activities.
Evaluation systems and criteria
Online
- This course is delivered entirely online.
- Assessment will be carried out through a multiple-choice questionnaire, which will account for 100% of the final course grade.
- Submission of the assessment activity/examination for this course within the designated period is mandatory. Submissions outside the established deadlines will not be accepted.
- Assessment activities must be completed individually, unless otherwise indicated by the lecturer/consultant. Group study and cooperative work can be useful and effective study strategies; however, this does not imply that copies or duplicated submissions are permitted in assessment activities, even when students have worked together. The assessment system is entirely ad personam and, therefore, strictly individual. Consequently, the submission of an activity that has been copied from or duplicated by another student or students, whether from the same class or from another class within the same area of knowledge, will result in the activity being considered not submitted (NS) for all students involved, regardless of the relationship between them. Likewise, if duplication is detected in an activity, the entire continuous assessment process will be reviewed, and the same criterion will be applied to all activities that do not meet the requirement of individual completion. If such an incident is detected, the lecturer/consultant will notify the student or students concerned through a message sent to their personal mailbox.
- Exercises must be submitted within the established deadline. No extensions will be granted.
- The instructions, requirements, estimated time needed to complete each assessment activity, and marking criteria will be specified within the corresponding exercise.
- In order to undertake the final practical course, On-site Technical-Clinical Sessions, students must have successfully completed at least 4 of the 6 previous theoretical courses.
- If a student fails or does not attend 2 of these 6 courses, the Master's Programme Management will assess the most appropriate option for the student to complete a new assessment activity as a second attempt only for the affected courses, thereby enabling the student to undertake the practical course. This new assessment activity will be graded as 0 if failed, 5 if passed, or NS if not submitted. In the latter case (NS), the Programme Management reserves the right to assess the individual circumstances and determine the final resolution regarding the student's academic record, as students are required to complete and pass ALL assessments and courses in order to obtain the qualification.
- Students who fail to pass the minimum requirement of 4 courses will not be eligible for a second attempt in any of the failed courses. They will therefore be required to enrol again in all courses not successfully completed during the following academic year, in accordance with the fees established for the new academic year.
Bibliography and resources
It is detailed in the documentation provided for the course.