MRCP

Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) on a 3-Tesla Philips Ingenia scanner, providing non-invasive imaging of the bile ducts, gallbladder, and pancreatic duct. The examination detects gallstones, biliary strictures, cholangitis, pancreatic duct abnormalities, and early pancreatic pathology without radiation, contrast injection, or endoscopic instrumentation.

MRCP exploits the inherently high signal of static fluid on heavily T2-weighted MRI sequences to produce detailed images of the biliary and pancreatic ductal systems without the need for contrast injection or endoscopic access. This makes it a non-invasive alternative to diagnostic ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography), which carries procedural risks including pancreatitis and perforation. The 3-Tesla platform at Dr. MAGNET's Bratislava centres provides improved ductal visualisation compared to 1.5T systems, particularly for small intrahepatic ducts and the distal common bile duct where the pancreatic duct joins. The examination is performed without intravenous contrast in most cases — the bile and pancreatic juice themselves provide the imaging contrast. This eliminates any risk of contrast-related adverse reactions. MRCP is indicated for evaluation of suspected choledocholithiasis (common bile duct stones), biliary obstruction, primary sclerosing cholangitis, pancreatic divisum, and screening for intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs). The examination also images the liver, gallbladder, and surrounding structures, providing additional diagnostic context. At EUR 380, the price matches other single-region MRI examinations on the Dr. MAGNET schedule.