Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography: Uses Procedure & Benefits

What is magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP)?

Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP), a magnetic resonance imaging  (MRI) procedure, offers precise pictures of the pancreatic and hepatobiliary systems, which can be used to study the organs such as the gallbladder, liver, bile ducts, pancreatic duct, and pancreas. Doctors use magnetic resonance imaging or MRI, a safe procedure, to identify medical disorders. MRCP scan creates the precise image of the interior of the body by using a strong radiofrequency pulse, a magnetic field, and a computer. Radiation (x-ray) isn’t used during a MRCP test. Doctors may inspect the body and find diseases with the help of detailed MR pictures.

An intravenous (IV) line is used to inject a dye inside your veins for this procedure. The dye, also known as a contrast medium, aids in creating the clear pictures of your internal organs as well as the tubes connecting them. The findings help your healthcare provider in the diagnosis and treatment planning of a disease. Since the MRCP test is a non-invasive examination, no objects need to be inserted into the patients to obtain the pictures.

Uses of magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP)

Doctors use the MRCP test for the following purposes:

• To examine conditions affecting the pancreas, bile ducts, liver, gallbladder, and pancreatic duct, MRCP test can be used. A few conditions that can be studied are tumours, kidney stones, inflammation, and infections.
• Pancreatitis patients are examined to determine the root cause of the disease. An MRCP scan can be performed on pancreatitis patients by using the drug secretin to check for long-term scarring and estimate the extent of normal function of the pancreas and its secretions.
• MRCP aids in making an accurate diagnosis of stomach pain.
• The MRCP test is used as a safer alternative for endoscopic retrograde

cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). ERCP is a diagnostic process that involves the use of iodinated contrast injection, x-ray pictures, and endoscopy, which is done to examine the body using a luminous optical tool. This invasive technique, ERCP, is used to assess the pancreatic as well as bile ducts.

Preparation Required for Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography
Before consultation, a medical professional may give you instructions on how to get ready for the MRCP test.

• A few hours before the MRCP test, you are requested to not eat or drink anything.
• As the dye (gadolinium) may trigger problems in some patients, your healthcare provider may ask any sensitivities or allergies you may have.
• You must tell the doctor about your medical history, current illnesses, and prescription drugs.
• You should inform about your pregnancy status to the healthcare provider because gadolinium (contrast medium) should not be given to pregnant women.
• If you have a history of claustrophobia (fear of being in an isolated space), inform the doctor so they might consider giving you a sedative before the procedure.
• Keep watches, jewellery, hairpins, pens, spectacles, detachable dental devices, and other similar objects outside of the examination area.
• Since MRI scans involve the use of magnets, patients should inform the medical staff if they have any metallic material or devices installed for medical purposes or some other reason in their body; these materials can include stents, heart defibrillators, vagal nerve stimulators, pacemakers, and some hearing implants.

Individuals having metal in their bodies should avoid the MRI area unless the medical staff decides it is safe for them to be around this area. Electronic or metal items might shift or interact with the scan, resulting in burns. If there are metallic shards, such as shrapnel, close to or inside the eyes, an MRI may also cause the  patient to become blind. Rarely, tattoo colouring agents may contain iron that heats up at the time of examination. For the doctor to take the necessary precautions to reduce the dangers mentioned above, patients must provide them with relevant history in advance.

What to Expect During Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography?

MRI tests can be performed without a hospital stay. You are requested to be positioned on the mobile examination table by the MRI operator. To help you remain motionless and in your position, they may employ belts and bolsters. The technician may put objects with coils that can transmit and receive radio waves close to or near the part of the body being examined. The majority of MRI exams consists of several scans (sequences), a few of which can extend for a few minutes. Different sounds will be produced during each scan.

An intravenous (IV) line will be inserted into a vein inside your arm or hand if your evaluation requires a contrast agent. To administer the contrast agent, doctors will use this IV. You’ll be inserted into the MRI machine. The test will be performed by the technician while they are seated in front of the PC outside the examination room. A headset or intercom will allow you to communicate with the technician.

After a preliminary round of scans, the technician will administer the contrast agent into the intravenous (IV) line if a need for a contrast agent arises during the procedure. More pictures will be taken during and/or after the contrast agent is administered. The actual MRCP test can last for around 10 to 15 minutes; however, it is frequently combined with a standard abdominal MRI that takes about 30 minutes to complete and uses a contrast material. In this instance (use of contrast medium), the test is often finished in 45 minutes.
MRI tests usually are pleasant. Some patients, however, find it difficult to stay motionless.

Others could experience claustrophobia when they are inside the MRI machine. The scanner might be very loud. When the IV catheter line is placed, some minor discomfort could be experienced initially if a contrast agent is used. Some diagnostic centres’ use of an oral contrast can give a bitter taste. Your body part, which needs scanning, may feel a little warmed up; this is common. Tell your technician or radiologist if it worries you. It’s crucial that you stay motionless while the pictures are being captured. Most of the time, this lasts only for a few seconds or a few minutes.

When photos are captured, strong thumping or pounding noises will be audible and felt. These sounds are produced whenever the coils that produce the radio waves are activated. To help you avoid the scanner’s noise, earphones or earplugs will be given to you. In between imaging cycles, you may be allowed to take a break. You must, however, maintain your posture as stationary as possible during the images are captured.

In the examination room, you will be by yourself. However, a dual-channel intercom will allow the technician to observe, hear, and communicate with you throughout the MRCP scan. You will also receive a ‘squeeze ball’ that signals to the technician that you require immediate assistance. Many facilities permit parents or friends to stay inside the room provided they have also undergone safety screening.

Benefits of Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography

• Radiation-free imaging is possible with the MRCP test.
• The liver, heart, pancreas, and many other soft-tissue organs of the body can all be seen in detail through MRI. This fact makes MRI a crucial tool for the early detection and assessment of cancer.
• A wide variety of illnesses, such as cardiac and vascular conditions, stroke, and joint and muscle disorders, can be successfully diagnosed using MRI.
• Medical professionals can use MRI to assess an organ’s anatomy and function.
• The gadolinium contrast agent employed in MRCP scans has a lower probability of resulting in allergic reactions than the iodine-based contrast agents used in X-rays and computed tomography (CT).
• A more invasive procedure referred to as endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) can yield images identical to those obtained using MRCP, but ERCP carries additional risks like pancreatitis, bile duct perforation, bowel perforation, and the need for an IV sedation. Due to these reasons, the MRCP test is preferred.

Risks of Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography

• When necessary, safety precautions are taken; however, the MRI examination poses essentially no danger to the patient.
• There is a chance of overuse of sedation if it is required. To lessen this risk, the doctors will track your vital signs.
• You won’t be harmed by the powerful magnetic field. However, it could result in damage to you or picture alteration because of the implanted medical devices (pacemakers) inside the patient’s body.
• A known side effect of gadolinium contrasting infusion is nephrogenic systemic fibrosis. With the use of a recently developed gadolinium contrast medium, the occurrence of this side effect has become quite uncommon. In people with severe kidney diseases, this can develop frequently. Before deciding whether to administer the contrast medium, your doctor will thoroughly evaluate the health of your kidneys.
• If your exam involves the use of contrast agents, there is a very small chance of experiencing an allergic reaction. These reactions are typically moderate and are controlled by medicines. You should consult a doctor right away if you experience an allergic response.
• Even though there are no known negative effects on health, research has revealed that if multiple MRCP tests are done, extremely minute levels of gadolinium could persist inside the body, especially in the brain. Patients who undergo multiple MRCP tests over the course of their lives to monitor chronic medical disorders are most likely to experience this. The kidneys are primarily responsible for the body’s elimination of the contrast material. If you fall into this category, talk to your doctor about the risk of gadolinium retention because each patient will experience the consequences differently.
• Very few cases of oral contrast reactions are reported for the patient administered the contrast for the MRCP test across different facilities. Additionally, the oral contrast medium administered at certain facilities could have a bad taste and can temporarily make patients feel full.