Talk:Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography

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Technical issues: MRCP is best performed on high performance MRI scanners. These scanners operate at either 1.5 Tesla, or 3 Tesla. In general, facilities with newer MRI scanners have better software for performing MRCP.

The majority of MRCP examinations are done without secretin. The examination takes approximately 30 minutes. The images obtained should be acquired in the axial plane initially in order to visualize the course of the common duct and pancreatic duct. Then a series of coronal and coronal oblique images are obtained. Images are generally acquired using a HASTE or single shot fast spin echo technique. 20-30 or more thick slab coronal and/ or coronal oblique images should be obtained in this fashion.

Many insitutions also perform gadolinium enhanced MRI in conjunction with MRCP. This involves injection of a contrast agent intravenously, followed by dynamic 3d image acquisiiton. The purpose of these images is to visualize the soft tissues around the common bile duct and pancreatic duct. For example, pancreatic cancers are seen best using gadolinium enhanced MRI versus MRCP images alone. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.254.17.2 (talk) 12:36, 1 January 2008 (UTC)