Re: ?ss about ERCP vs MRCP

[Guest guest]

Cyndi,

I know you will get other better responses to this. I have only had

ERCp's. I have heard that an MRCp was not as conclusive nor was it as

invasive as a ERCp. But that is all I can tell you.

I also suffer with SOD. I had the keyhole GB surgery and believe that

is the root of my CP. I am not diabetic either. But do have thyroid

problems.

Sandy in Ca

Jannello wrote:

>My questions have to do with what an MRCP would show that an ERCP

>would not.

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Cyndi,

I am just guessing and it could be a wild one at that...but I am

thinking that maybe he is ordering the MRCP not because it will

show something different than the ERCP but that it will be less of

a risk to you. The ERCP is the gold standard and in

combination with the EUS it pretty much covers everything to be

seen with the pancreas (tissue and ducts) short of going in

surgically and taking a good look around. However, it is a risky

test - especially if the patient has reacted poorly to previous

ones. In addition, with your surgeries, it may have made it more

difficult to access your ducts by ERCP. The MRCP though, is

non-invasive and when done well, can give the doc and

radiologist a pretty good picture of the ducts and tissue.

However, there are still some resolution limitations to this test -

not being able to see everywhere and in good detail....but it is

becoming almost as good as the ERCP. The best thing about it

is that there is basically no risk of any bad reaction (maybe a

reaction to the hormone if you have the MRCP-CCK or secretin

test done).

Why he is resorting to the MRCP rather than the ERCP could be

because he is just monitoring your progression and wanting to

do a cautious watch and see type of management now. He

maybe suspecting a pseudocyst...but doesn't want to risk the

ERCP until he knows for sure that it is there and needs to be

drained......Who knows? This is all very out there guessing on

my part. But I would say that he is going this way not so much to

find something new, but to make sure nothing has changed and

that this is the easies way to do it and has basically no risk to

you.

Hope this helps a little. Just remember, I could be way off target

here.......

Laurie

[Guest guest]

Cyndi,

If Laurie is way off base, then so am I, because I would have said what Laurie

already did. The MRCP is still very revealing, yet totally non-invasive.

Just remember to take some socks and wear warm clothing.....hahaha! I was

freezing at my last one. They need to keep the room very cool to protect the

machinery. I " ve had 3 MRCP's and one MRI, which is almost the same. Also,

if you are at all claustrophobic, (I am), ask them for some sedation. I went to

my first MRCP by myself, thinking that I could handle it, and ended up having

a severe case of claustrophia while on the table. I swore I'd never do it that

way again! The only down side to this is that you need to have someone

there to drive you home, because the sedative will make you incapable of

anything like that for a few hours.

With love, hope and prayers,

Heidi

Heidi H. Griffeth

South Carolina State Rep.

SE Regional Rep., PAI

http://pancassociation.org/anthology.htm#Heidi

Note: All comments or advice are based on personal experience or opinion,

and should not be substituted for consultation with a medical professional.