endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography

noun

A specialized procedure that combines endoscopy and X-ray imaging to both diagnose and treat conditions of the bile ducts, pancreatic duct, and gallbladder. An endoscope is passed through the mouth into the duodenum, where contrast dye is injected into the ducts and visualized using fluoroscopy.

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Meanings

nounendoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (countable and uncountable, plural endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatographies, abbreviation ERCP)

plural endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatographies · abbreviation ERCP

  1. countableuncountablemedicineA specialized procedure that combines endoscopy and X-ray imaging to both diagnose and treat conditions of the bile ducts, pancreatic duct, and gallbladder. An endoscope is passed through the mouth into the duodenum, where contrast dye is injected into the ducts and visualized using fluoroscopy.

Origin

From endoscopic + retrograde + cholangiopancreatography.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/endoscopic%20retrograde%20cholangiopancreatography

MLA

“endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/endoscopic%20retrograde%20cholangiopancreatography. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/endoscopic%20retrograde%20cholangiopancreatography.

Source: endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.