The pancreas is a large, flat gland located in the upper abdomen, between the stomach and the upper portion of the small intestine, known as the duodenum. The pancreas produces enzymes that flow through the pancreatic duct and combine with bile, to aid in the digestion of food. The pancreas also produces insulin and glucagon helping to regulate blood sugar levels. A pancreatic pseudocyst is a sac of fluid that has collected on or around the pancreas. The sac is usually composed of pancreatic fluid that has leaked out of the pancreatic duct, scar tissue, and blood. A pancreatic pseudocyst most often develops after an attack of acute or chronic pancreatitis or as a result of abdominal trauma.
Symptoms of a Pancreatic Pseudocyst
A pancreatic pseudocyst may not exhibit any symptoms. A pancreatic pseudocyst is usually diagnosed after imaging tests are performed. If symptoms of a pancreatic pseudocyst do exist, they may include the following:
- Abdominal bloating
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Problems with digesting food
These symptoms can present themselves in as little as a few days after the development of a pancreatic pseudocyst, or as much as a few months later.
Diagnosis of a Pancreatic Pseudocyst
The diagnosis of a pancreatic pseudocyst will be confirmed after a thorough medical and physical examination and the completion of some of the following tests:
- Abdominal CT scan
- Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, or MRCP
- Endoscopic ultrasound
- Abdominal ultrasound
Treatment of a Pancreatic Pseudocyst
Most pancreatic pseudocysts present no symptoms and go away on their own. Surgical treatment is only necessary for a pancreatic pseudocyst that remains for more than a month and have a diameter of more than 5 centimeters. Other treatment options may include the following:
- CT-guided needle drainage
- Laparoscopic surgical drainage
- Endoscopic drainage
Complications of a Pancreatic Pseudocyst
If left untreated, a pancreatic pseudocyst may result in the following complications:
- Pressure placed on nearby organs
- A rupture that results in excessive bleeding
- The development of an abscess
