Objective To explore the clinical value of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in diagnosis and treatment of gallbladder carcinoma with malignant obstructive jaundice.Methods Clinical data of 20 patients with gallbladder cancer complicated with malignant obstructive jaundice from January 2016 to September 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. The levels of total bilirubin (TBil), direct bilirubin (DBil) and pathological tissues before and after ERCP were compared.Results There were statistical significances in TBil [(230.61 ± 100.73) vs (110.10 ± 55.02) μmol/L] and DBil [(190.93 ± 99.72) vs (88.13 ± 38.30) μmol/L] before and after ERCP treatment (P < 0.05). The positive rate of combined biopsy with biopsy forceps and cell brush was higher than that of single biopsy (P = 0.019, P = 0.008).Conclusion ERCP has a significant effect in treatment of gallbladder carcinoma with malignant obstructive jaundice, and is very helpful to improve the quality of life of patients. At the same time, ERCP can also take biopsy to diagnose gallbladder carcinoma when patients have no surgical indications, so as to provide pathological basis for further comprehensive treatment.