Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, or ERCP for short, is a procedure used to find and fix issues in your liver, gallbladder, bile ducts, and pancreas. It’s like a combination of X-ray and using a special tool called an endoscope, which is a long, flexible tube with a light.

During ERCP, doctors use the endoscope and X-rays to watch as they inject dye into your pancreatic and bile ducts. This helps them spot any problems, like gallstones, tumors, or narrow areas called strictures. If they find any issues, they can often fix them right then and there using the endoscope during the procedure.