re: CT-scans

[Guest guest]

,

There have been cases where a patient had a CT-scan looking for

pancreatitis and nothing showed up on the scan, yet there was damage. The

test that's frequently done if damage is suspected and not shown on the CT-

scan films is the ERCP. This test is the gold standard for diagnosing

pancreatic damage, and it will show much more than what a CT-scan does.

The only drawback to the ERCP is that this procedure itself often causes a

pancreatitis attack. Patients that have had several are aware of this, and

realize that the necessity of the procedure outweighs this threat. The beauty

of the ERCP is that if they find something wrong with the ducts while they're in

there with the scope, quite often they can fix it. And if the patient does have

an attack afterward, they are already in the hospital and it's much easier to

deal with.

Another procedure which is better than the CT-scan is the MRCP, which

shows much the same as the ERCP, except that it's non-invasive, and if there

are any problems, they can't be fixed at that time. The doctor would go in

later

with an ERCP, and make the repairs.

These are all the other options available if nothing appears on the CT-scan.

With love, hope and prayers,

Heidi

Heidi H. Griffeth

www.pancassociation.org/anthology#Heidi.html

Bluffton, SC

SC State & SE Regional Representative

Pancreatitis Association, International

www.health.groups.yahoo.com/group/pancreatitis/

Note: All comments or advice are personal opinion only, and should

not be substituted for professional medical consultation.