Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in chronic pancreatitis.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) plays an important diagnostic and therapeutic role in the management of chronic pancreatitis. New techniques are being developed which should further improve outcomes of endoscopic intervention. The ultimate role of these therapeutic interventions for chronic pancreatitis awaits prospective randomized data demonstrating their efficacy and safety in comparison to surgery. Until such time, these often difficult techniques should be performed by experienced endoscopists with significant experience in pancreatic disease, ideally within the context of controlled clinical trials.