What is the difference between ercp and mrcp

However, the baby will be in a strong magnetic field. Therefore, pregnant women should not have an MRI in the first trimester unless the benefit of the exam clearly outweighs any potential risks. Pregnant women should not receive gadolinium contrast unless absolutely necessary. If you have claustrophobia fear of enclosed spaces or anxiety, ask your doctor to prescribe a mild sedative prior to the date of your exam.

Leave all jewelry and other accessories at home or remove them prior to the MRI scan. Metal and electronic items are not allowed in the exam room.

They can interfere with the magnetic field of the MRI unit, cause burns, or become harmful projectiles. These items include:. In most cases, an MRI exam is safe for patients with metal implants, except for a few types. People with the following implants may not be scanned and should not enter the MRI scanning area without first being evaluated for safety:.

Tell the technologist if you have medical or electronic devices in your body. These devices may interfere with the exam or pose a risk. Many implanted devices will have a pamphlet explaining the MRI risks for that device.

If you have the pamphlet, bring it to the attention of the scheduler before the exam. MRI cannot be performed without confirmation and documentation of the type of implant and MRI compatibility. You should also bring any pamphlet to your exam in case the radiologist or technologist has any questions. If there is any question, an x-ray can detect and identify any metal objects. Metal objects used in orthopedic surgery generally pose no risk during MRI.

However, a recently placed artificial joint may require the use of a different imaging exam. Tell the technologist or radiologist about any shrapnel, bullets, or other metal that may be in your body. Foreign bodies near and especially lodged in the eyes are very important because they may move or heat up during the scan and cause blindness.

Dyes used in tattoos may contain iron and could heat up during an MRI scan. This is rare. The magnetic field will usually not affect tooth fillings, braces, eyeshadows, and other cosmetics. However, these items may distort images of the facial area or brain.

Tell the radiologist about them. Your child may need to be sedated in order to hold still adequately during the procedure. If this is the case, you will be given instructions for your child about not eating or drinking several hours prior to sedation and the examination. For the safety of your child during the sedation, it is important that you fully understand and follow any instructions that have been given. After the procedure there will be a recovery period from the sedation.

The traditional MRI unit is a large cylinder-shaped tube surrounded by a circular magnet. You will lie on a table that slides into a tunnel towards the center of the magnet. Some MRI units, called short-bore systems , are designed so that the magnet does not completely surround you.

Some newer MRI machines have a larger diameter bore, which can be more comfortable for larger patients or those with claustrophobia. They are especially helpful for examining larger patients or those with claustrophobia. Open MRI units can provide high quality images for many types of exams. Open MRI may not be used for certain exams. For more information, consult your radiologist. Instead, radio waves re-align hydrogen atoms that naturally exist within the body. This does not cause any chemical changes in the tissues.

As the hydrogen atoms return to their usual alignment, they emit different amounts of energy depending on the type of tissue they are in. The scanner captures this energy and creates a picture using this information. In most MRI units, the magnetic field is produced by passing an electric current through wire coils. Other coils are inside the machine and, in some cases, are placed around the part of the body being imaged.

These coils send and receive radio waves, producing signals that are detected by the machine. The electric current does not come into contact with the patient.

A computer processes the signals and creates a series of images, each of which shows a thin slice of the body. The radiologist can study these images from different angles. MRI is often able to tell the difference between diseased tissue and normal tissue better than x-ray, CT, and ultrasound.

The technologist will position you on the moveable exam table. They may use straps and bolsters to help you stay still and maintain your position. It can not be used on a person who has previously undergone stent surgery. MRCP can not opt on someone who has a pacemaker implanted as the magnetic resonance will interfere in the working of the pacemaker. MRCP was first introduced in , and it was evolved from a technique with questionable potential.

It has, at present, replaced diagnostic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in a number of clinical scenarios. ERCP and MRCP are two different kinds of technology that are used for the purpose of diagnosis and treatment of grievous diseases inside the human body.

Both include imaging techniques for the purpose of treatment but they differ in the context of equipment, method, the experience they use. ERCP is considered a boon for the dilatation of the sphincter due to the advent of endoscopy allowing insertion of small metal stents in collapsed ducts. Fluoroscopy is used to check for blockages, lesions and stones.

ERCP is also used for the treatment of obstructive jaundice, stricture of various bile ducts and pancreatic or gall bladder tumour. MRCP is preferred as it is non-invasive and can help in diagnosing a particular condition. MRCP helps to visualize the bile and the pancreatic ducts as well as the surrounding soft tissues which is not possible in a person undergoing ERCP. Gone are the days when people used to opt for basic operative procedures with simple operations, as now better operative procedures like ERCP and MRCP have come up.

ERCP cannot be done in persons who have undergone previous allergic reaction anaphylaxis due to the dye used or in persons who have a history of myocardial infarction. Clotting disorders are another set of conditions which do not allow employment of ERCP. MRCP cannot be opted for in persons who have undergone previous stent surgery or have a pacemaker implanted as the magnetic resonance will interfere in the working of the pace maker.

Low blood pressure may be another risk factor for ERCP. ERCP is preferred less these days as against MRCP considering the cost, risks and the complications involved in such a highly invasive procedure.

The procedure also requires administration of contrast material for the imaging to work properly. A problem associated with ERCP procedure is side effects from treatment. ERCP procedure side effects are not a severe risk but they occur in 1 to 5 percent of patients. For instance, the most common side effect from ERCP procedure is pancreatitis, or inflammation of the pancreas. Pancreatitis can be fairly serious since it can occur even with experienced physicians and usually requires one or two days of treatment from a hospital.

Many other ERCP procedure side effects require hospital treatment and sometimes surgery.