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Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreaticography (MRCPG)
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
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A highly effective non-invasive method in the diagnosis of biliary tract diseases is magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP), which allows obtaining high-contrast images of the bile ducts and pancreatic ducts.
Today, the most effectively developing direction of radiation diagnostics is magnetic resonance imaging. The method is based on the phenomenon of nuclear magnetic resonance. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses biologically safe electromagnetic radiation, different from X-rays and gamma radiation. The features of MRI are the safety of the study, high detail and differentiation of soft tissues, the ability to change the contrast of tissues.
[ Features of MRCP
The images obtained by MRCP are similar to those obtained by ERCP, but there are significant differences:
- the examination does not use a contrast agent (the images are obtained due to the magnetic resonance properties of the liquid);
- does not use ionizing X-rays;
- no endoscopic manipulations required;
- MR images are obtained in the “natural” state of the ducts, whereas with retrograde cholangiopancreatography images are obtained by creating increased (pathophysiological) pressure caused by the introduction of a contrast agent (risk of acute pancreatitis);
- MRCP allows studying images in any arbitrary plane (3D reconstruction is possible);
- MRCP is formed by adding together multiple thin sections, allowing for their layer-by-layer study.
With MRI, if the patient is properly prepared, sedatives or contrast agents are not usually used.
MRCP (magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography) is a highly effective method for complicated cholelithiasis, tumor lesions, inflammatory changes, congenital diseases of the biliary tract, in the diagnosis of biliary hypertension when determining its cause and the level of biliary block.