Etymed
endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
Definition
A medical procedure that uses an endoscope to examine the bile ducts and pancreas by injecting contrast dye and taking X-ray images
Clinical context
A 45-year-old woman presents with jaundice, dark urine, and pale stools. Imaging reveals dilated bile ducts with a suspected common bile duct stone. The patient undergoes endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography which reveals a 1.2 cm stone in the common bile duct, which is successfully removed during the procedure.
Mnemonic
ERCP - Endoscope Retrograde Cholangio Pancreatography (Remember: 'Endo' for endoscope, 'Retrograde' for backwards approach, 'Cholangio' for bile ducts, 'Pancreatography' for pancreas)
These morphemes also unlock…
- endo- — within; inside
- scop/o — to view; to examine
- -ic — pertaining to
- retro- — backward; behind
- -grade — step; to go
- cholangi/o — bile duct
- pancreat/o — pancreas
- -graphy — process of recording