Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP).

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is a medical procedure usually performed if a patient is experiencing jaundice, unexplained pain in the upper abdomen, or unexplained weight loss. It is used to determine the sources of these conditions. ERCP can be used to find tumors, blockages, cysts, tissue irregularities, or gallstones. It may also be used to discover the source of inflammation in the liver, bile ducts (which drain the liver, gallbladder, and pancreas), gallbladder, or pancreas. If imaging or blood tests are confusing or inconclusive, this procedure may be used to clarify those inconsistencies. ERCP may also help to plan surgery for a patient who is already known to be suffering from gallbladder or pancreatic disease or who has a mass or tumor shown in imaging processes.