Over the past decade, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) has developed from being a diagnostic tool to become one that is primarily used to provide therapy. This development occurred first for biliary disorders and more recently for primary diseases of the pancreas. Not only can new-generation computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging, and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography procedures suggest a diagnosis in the majority of individuals with pancreatic diseases today; in addition, ERCP-related complications can be minimized or avoided altogether in conjunction with positron-emission tomography or directed cytology or biopsy, either using ultrasound or CT guidance, or with tissue obtained during endoscopic ultrasonography. It is against this background that papers on therapeutic pancreatic endoscopy published during approximately the last year are reviewed here. Despite these developments, however, the following three issues concerning current advances in pancreatic endotherapy should be emphasized: firstly, most of the techniques reviewed here affect only a small number of patients; secondly, most of the techniques have been reported only by expert centers; and thirdly, most of the studies concerned have lacked control groups, and there is still a paucity of studies investigating endoscopic techniques on a randomized basis in comparison with surgery or medical therapy for the treatment of most benign and malignant pancreatic disorders.

The role of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in the management of pancreatic diseases is continuing to evolve. This article reviews recent publications spanning a wide range of topics related to therapeutic pancreatic endoscopy: Over the last 12 months, several case series have added to the literature on the short-term and long-term effectiveness of endoscopic therapy of pseudocysts, pancreatic abscesses and fistulas. Identification of a communication between pancreatic duct and a pseudocyst has been suggested to predict response to percutaneous drainage. The importance of identifying pancreatic leaks in patients with severe pancreatitis has been stressed. In addition, endotherapy has been reported to be effective in patients with idiopathic chronic pancreatitis. Endoscopic removal of pancreatic stones after extracorporeal lithotripsy has been shown to result in long-term improvement in clinical outcomes in patients with chronic calcific pancreatitis. Other interesting publications addressed new techniques and tricks to achieve access to the difficult pancreatic duct. Finally, no review of pancreatic endotherapy would be complete without a reminder--as recently stated by a National Institutes of Health consensus panel--that there is considerable need for higher-quality and controlled trials in this and other areas of interventional endoscopy.

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