Pancreatic disease or Pancreatitis occurs when digestive enzymes become activated in the pancreas, causing inflammation and irritating cells of the pancreas.
This can damage the pancreas and lead to chronic pancreatitis. ERCP and MRCP are the two types of diagnosis that can help in the Diagnosis and treatment of such diseases.
Key Takeaways
- ERCP is a medical procedure that uses an endoscope to examine and treat problems in the liver, pancreas, and gallbladder.
- MRCP is a non-invasive diagnostic procedure that uses magnetic resonance imaging to produce detailed images of the biliary and pancreatic systems.
- While ERCP involves the insertion of a flexible tube through the mouth, MRCP does not require any insertion and is used mainly for diagnostic purposes.
ERCP vs. MRCP
The ERCP is an invasive technique in which an endoscopic tube with a camera at one end is inserted to diagnose the pancreas, gallbladder, and bile duct. MRCP is an imaging technique used to diagnose bile ducts and pancreatic ducts. It is a non-invasive procedure that uses MRI for imaging.
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ERCP stands for Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio-Pancreatography, is an invasive procedure of treatment that consists of inserting a tube ( fiber-like) called an endoscope with a camera at one end through the mouth of the patient till the pancreas and viewing the inside of the gastrointestinal tract.
MRCP, Magnetic Resonance Cholangio-Pancreatography, is a kind of diagnosis consisting of creating a magnetic resonance field generated by a magnetic resonance imaging machine around the body that then takes images for further treatment procedures.
In MRCP, contrast dye is not used as it is a non-invasive process.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | ERCP | MRCP |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography is an invasive procedure for treating pancreatic diseases where an incision is required on the patient’s body. | Magnetic Resonance Cholangio-Pancreatography, popularly known as MRCP, is a medical imaging technique that visualizes the pancreatic or biliary ducts using non-invasive manners that can be used to determine the lodged gallstones. |
| Process | It includes inserting an endoscope(fiber-like tube) with a camera attached at one end, through the mouth of the patient to the pancreas, and then taking the view of the gastrointestinal tract from inside with the help of a Fluoroscope. | It creates a magnetic resonance field generated by a magnetic resonance imaging machine around the body that then takes images for further treatment procedures. |
| Equipment | ERCP uses Laparoscopy and Fluoroscopy for the purpose of treatment. | MRCP is done using an MRI(Magnetic Resonance Imaging) machine. |
| Cost | ERCP is very costly. | MRCP is less costly. |
| Risk | ERCP involves a higher risk | MRCP involves comparatively lesser risk. |
| Importance | ERCP is commonly used for therapeutic. | MRCP is commonly used for diagnosis. |
What is ERCP?
Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio-Pancreatography, popular as ERCP, is an invasive procedure for treating pancreatic diseases where an incision is required on the patient’s body.
It includes inserting an endoscope(fiber-like tube) with a camera attached at one end, through the mouth of the patient to the pancreas, and then taking the view of the gastrointestinal tract from inside with the help of a Fluoroscope.
When the endoscope reaches the gall bladder, a dye is injected into the ducts of the pancreas, and inside the body is viewed through a Fluoroscope.
ERCP is used for diagnosing abnormalities in bile ducts and pancreatic ducts; it is also used for treating obstructive jaundice. Gall bladder tumor and various ducts.
This process can not be used on a person with a history of myocardial infarction, clotting disorder, or who has undergone an allergic reaction due to the use of dye. ERCP has been a remarkable advancement of technology over the past 50 years in gastrointestinal endoscopy.
It has redefined the medical and surgical approach to pancreatic disease. It was initially born as a diagnostic process to access diseases of the pancreaticobiliary system in the 1960s.
What is MRCP?
Magnetic Resonance Cholangio-Pancreatography, popularly known as MRCP, is a medical imaging technique that visualizes the pancreatic or biliary ducts using non-invasive manners that can be used to determine the lodged gallstones.
MRCP is used in cases with unexplained abdominal pain or the treatment of stones in common bile ducts, biliary dyskinesia, or cancer. Doctors more often use this process because there is low or uncertain morality of hepatobiliary pathology.
It can not be used on someone previously undergoing stent surgery. MRCP can not opt on someone with a pacemaker implanted as the magnetic resonance will interfere with the working of the pacemaker.
MRCP was first introduced in 1991 and evolved from a technique with questionable potential. It has, at present, replaced diagnostic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in several clinical scenarios.
Main Differences Between ERCP and MRCP
- Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography is an invasive procedure for treating pancreatic diseases where an incision is required on the patient’s body. Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography is a medical imaging technique that visualizes the pancreatic or biliary ducts using non-invasive manners that can be used to determine the lodged gallstones.
- It includes inserting an endoscope(fiber-like tube) with a camera attached at one end, through the mouth of the patient to the pancreas, and then taking the view of the gastrointestinal tract from inside with the help of a Fluoroscope. On the other hand, MRCP creates a magnetic resonance field generated by a magnetic resonance imaging machine around the body that takes images for further treatment procedures.
- ERCP is done with the use of Laparoscopy and Fluoroscopy, and MRCP is done with the use of an MRI(Magnetic Resonance Imaging) machine.
- ERCP is more costly, while MRCP is less costly.
- ERCP has a higher risk as compared to MRCP.
- ERCP is commonly used for therapeutic. At the same time, MRCP is commonly used for diagnosis.
- https://www.ajol.info/index.php/sajr/article/view/34514
- https://www.karger.com/Article/Abstract/78731
- https://www.giejournal.org/article/S0016-5107(02)70008-4/abstract
- https://europepmc.org/article/med/18265635
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Piyush Yadav has spent the past 25 years working as a physicist in the local community. He is a physicist passionate about making science more accessible to our readers. He holds a BSc in Natural Sciences and Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science. You can read more about him on his bio page.
