RE: Re: MRCP vs ERCP vs Liver Biopsy

[Guest guest]

I spoke with Dr Bowlus of UC last month. He still felt that MRCP results vary depending on patient movement and radiologist's familiarity with using MRCP and liver disease. If the MRCP is read by someone who does not do procedure as frequently, results may not be as sensitive as if read by someone who see's them frequently. Thus, if MRCP is inconclusive, an ERCP may be done.

Doing the less invasive MRCP is worth it - there are no side effects, no risk of pancreatitis, etc. If ERCP is necessary, then it is worth the risks. For sure, I would want to repeat MRCP any day and procrastinate ERCP unless truly necessary.

Joanne H

(, Ca., mom of 18, UC/PSC 2-06)

Thank you, Genevieve. I've been researching the net and it seems that both MRCP and ERCP are similar in their accuracy but MRCP "cannot really exclude early PSC". One wonders what the frequency of such "false negatives' could be... and how much time is needed before MRCP is able to detect it.

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