Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is still a gold stand
ard in the diagnostic work-up of the pancreaticobiliary system. However, th
e problem of post-ERCP pancreatitis has not yet been solved, Since the appe
arance of magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography ((MRCP), there has be
en a trend for it to replace ERCP as an imaging tool. At present, MRCP equi
pment is not available at every institution, In addition, MRCP images are n
ot satisfactorily comparable to those provided by EKCP, although technologi
cal advances will fill this gap in the near future. If this is achieved, di
agnostic ERCP may he reduced to the specific tasks of obtaining histologica
l and cytological materials, and for functional studies.