[Functional tests during endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography (ERCP) (author's transl)]

Abstract

The diagnostic tools and functional analyses during endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography (ERCP) are critically surveyed. The most important recent advance seems to be manometry in the bile- and pancreatic duct if a reproducible technique has been established. Pancreatic- and biliary juice cytology is of limited value in early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer only; this holds true for the estimation of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). However, both techniques are supplemental procedures in ERCP. Pancreatic function test from pure pancreatic juice is of no obvious advantage compared to the duodenal aspiration procedure; at present it is of scientific interest only as are the analysis of the pattern of pancreatic juice proteins and measurement of the viscosity of the pancreatic juice.