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Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreaticography (MRCP)
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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A highly effective non-invasive method in the diagnosis of biliary tract diseases is magnetic resonance cholangiopancreaticography (MRCP), which allows obtaining high-contrast images of bile ducts and pancreatic ducts.
To date, the most efficiently developing direction of radiation diagnosis is magnetic resonance imaging. The technique is based on the phenomenon of nuclear magnetic resonance. With magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), biologically safe electromagnetic radiation is used, other than X-ray and gamma radiation. Features of MRI are safety studies, high detail and differentiation of soft tissues, the ability to change the contrast of tissues.
[Features MRCPG
The images obtained at MRCPG are similar to those at ERCP, but there are significant differences:
- the contrast agent is not used in the study (images are obtained due to the magnetic resonance properties of the liquid);
- do not use ionizing X-rays;
- no endoscopic manipulation is required;
- MR images were obtained in the "natural" state of the ducts, when, as with retrograde cholangiopancreatography, images were obtained by creating an increased (pathophysiological) pressure due to the administration of a contrast agent (risk of acute pancreatitis);
- MRCPG allows you to study images in any arbitrary plane (3D reconstruction is possible);
- MRCPG is formed by adding a lot of thin sections, giving the possibility of their layerwise study.
With MRI, certain patient preparation does not require sedative or contrast preparations, as a rule, are not used.
MRCPG (magnetic resonance cholangiopancreaticography) is a highly effective method for complicated LCG, tumor lesion, inflammatory changes, congenital diseases of the bile ducts, in the diagnosis of bile hypertension in determining its cause and the level of the biliary block.