What should you know about an MRI scan of the pancreas?

A pancreatic MRI can display the pancreas, bile ducts, pancreatic duct, liver and surrounding soft tissues. It may help clarify a cyst, inflammation, blockage or an area that needs further assessment. A specialised sequence called MRCP may focus on the bile and pancreatic ducts.

An MRI finding is not the same as a cancer diagnosis. The radiologist considers the images with your symptoms, blood tests and earlier scans. If tissue confirmation is needed, the next step may be a biopsy or another procedure chosen by your specialist.

Follow the centre's instructions about fasting, because food and drink rules can vary, especially when contrast or MRCP is planned. Tell the team about kidney disease, previous contrast reactions, pregnancy or possible pregnancy, implanted devices and metal fragments. Bring details of medicines and earlier imaging if requested.

You will lie on a table while images are taken during short periods of stillness and sometimes breath-holding. Practise calm, steady breathing and tell staff if breath-holding is difficult. Remove metal items before entering the scan room.

Seek urgent care for severe or worsening upper-abdominal pain, repeated vomiting, yellowing of the skin with confusion, fainting, breathing difficulty or a new fever with marked illness. After contrast, obtain immediate help for facial swelling, widespread rash or breathing problems.

Ask whether the scan includes MRCP, whether contrast is needed, how fasting applies to you, when results will be available and what finding would lead to a biopsy. You can review [MRI Scan](/treatments/diagnostics-and-staging/mri-scan/) and [Biopsy](/treatments/diagnostics-and-staging/biopsy/).