1. < Digestive Health

Anyone have an abnormal imaging of liver and pancreas?

Posted by sb4ca @sb4ca, Mar 26 8:34pm

I had an imaging test called an MRCP which is a MRI just for the liver, gallbladder and pancreas. It was abnormal. My duct is dilated and they they think it is causing pressure into the liver causing ducts there to start dilating too. The hepatologists want to make sure I don't have a mass or obstruction or something at the head of the pancreas where the enzymes pass through. I probably have an enzyme deficiency because of that too they said. Next step is to undergo a special endoscopy where they can directly look at the pancreas. What confuses me is why this test wouldn't just show what the blockage is from to begin with. They said as an example that it could be a stone. I didn't even know the pancreas can create stones. Of course this is making me really nervous. Anybody here have any experience in this area? Thanks

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BeBold | @bebold | Mar 26 9:00pm

hmm. Liver and gallbladder are on one side, pancreas on the other. I'm not sure how you get to the pancreas from an endo? I had GB removed for stones and even at that, there can still be stone in the liver. I also don't know about stones in your pancreas. It's like a whole different system even. Pancreas and spleen are close.
I had a terrible scan of my liver once (not the one you said here) but they told me "it looks terrible and your enzymes are up but we thing its just a bad scan." The didn't offer to repeat it. Medicine is weird these days. What they tell me and what they write in the portal sometimes I wonder if they are actually talking about me? i'm a retired nurse and I hope I remember anatomy? (seriously long covid I could be wrong. lol) I'm going to check out that special endoscopy tho. best of luck. Tonsils can create stones...so maybe. Kidneys can...so maybe any organ can.

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1 reply
BeBold | @bebold | Mar 26 9:06pm

Pancreas endoscopy. Never heard of it. Thanks.

"Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) combines the use of a thin, flexible tube (endoscope) inserted into the gastrointestinal tract and a device that uses sound waves to create images (ultrasound). The high-frequency sound waves produce detailed images of the digestive tract and surrounding organs and tissues, including the lungs, pancreas, gall bladder, liver and lymph nodes.
ERCP is used to look for blocked bile ducts in the pancreas. It uses an endoscope to put dye into the pancreas so that the doctor can take an X-ray. An ERCP can take between 30-60 minutes. People usually have a local anaesthetic and a sedative. In rare cases people have a general anaesthetic. A few people we spoke to chose not to have a sedative for their first endoscopy but asked for one if they had to have the procedure again."

Just fyi about the sedative.

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1 reply
speedbird | @speedbird | Mar 27 10:20am

On 5/23 had ERCP with (Spyglass ). During Cholecystectomy surgeon noted a suspected lesion in cystic duct stump (low grade dysplasia). All turned out normal (ERCP) but as a precaution, a ct scan will be required every year for next five years. After ERCP procedure pancreatitis sometimes does occur. Gastrointestinal Dr. left stent in pancreatic duct to keep duct functioning normally. A week or two following procedure you will pass stent during a BM and then require XR to confirm. A non-event, never knew it happened! By the way, I did have a choice and requested general anaesthesia but I think a sedative would work just as well!

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sb4ca | @sb4ca | Mar 27 8:12pm
In reply to @bebold "hmm. Liver and gallbladder are on one side, pancreas on the other. I'm not sure how..." + (show)
@bebold

hmm. Liver and gallbladder are on one side, pancreas on the other. I'm not sure how you get to the pancreas from an endo? I had GB removed for stones and even at that, there can still be stone in the liver. I also don't know about stones in your pancreas. It's like a whole different system even. Pancreas and spleen are close.
I had a terrible scan of my liver once (not the one you said here) but they told me "it looks terrible and your enzymes are up but we thing its just a bad scan." The didn't offer to repeat it. Medicine is weird these days. What they tell me and what they write in the portal sometimes I wonder if they are actually talking about me? i'm a retired nurse and I hope I remember anatomy? (seriously long covid I could be wrong. lol) I'm going to check out that special endoscopy tho. best of luck. Tonsils can create stones...so maybe. Kidneys can...so maybe any organ can.

Jump to this post

Actually the head of the pancreas is just under the liver and gallbladder on your right side and connects there to your small intestines where the digestive enzymes are dumped. I sure hope that if your liver enzymes are abnormal that they pursue the cause.

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sb4ca | @sb4ca | Mar 27 8:18pm
In reply to @bebold "Pancreas endoscopy. Never heard of it. Thanks. "Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) combines the use of a..." + (show)
@bebold

Pancreas endoscopy. Never heard of it. Thanks.

"Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) combines the use of a thin, flexible tube (endoscope) inserted into the gastrointestinal tract and a device that uses sound waves to create images (ultrasound). The high-frequency sound waves produce detailed images of the digestive tract and surrounding organs and tissues, including the lungs, pancreas, gall bladder, liver and lymph nodes.
ERCP is used to look for blocked bile ducts in the pancreas. It uses an endoscope to put dye into the pancreas so that the doctor can take an X-ray. An ERCP can take between 30-60 minutes. People usually have a local anaesthetic and a sedative. In rare cases people have a general anaesthetic. A few people we spoke to chose not to have a sedative for their first endoscopy but asked for one if they had to have the procedure again."

Just fyi about the sedative.

Jump to this post

Are you kidding? I had an EUS/ERCP last year and was completely under! Even just having an endoscopy without the fancy stuff, I was under anesthesia. I'm not sure where you got that from. Scary stuff for sure, lol.

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1 reply
BeBold | @bebold | Mar 27 8:30pm
In reply to @sb4ca "Are you kidding? I had an EUS/ERCP last year and was completely under! Even just having..." + (show)
@sb4ca

Are you kidding? I had an EUS/ERCP last year and was completely under! Even just having an endoscopy without the fancy stuff, I was under anesthesia. I'm not sure where you got that from. Scary stuff for sure, lol.

Jump to this post

https://healthtalk.org/experiences/pancreatic-cancer/endoscopies-and-biopsies/#:~:text=An%20ERCP%20can%20take%20between,to%20have%20the%20procedure%20again.

Down under "what is..."
Well, good to know and clearly why they would never do it again withoit anesthesia. The first time I had a colonoscopy they gave me nothing and it was excruciating. He ruined me for life with that.

The pancreas is much larger than I remembered. Been 50 years...

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