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Pancreatic pseudocyst
Pancreatic pseudocyst
	A pancreatic pseudocyst as seen on CT
Specialty	Gastroenterology
Symptoms	Abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, vomiting and lack of appetite
Complications	Infection, hemorrhage, obstruction
Causes	Pancreatitis (chronic), Pancreatic neoplasm
Diagnostic method	Cyst fluid analysis
Differential diagnosis	Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm
Treatment	Cystogastrostomy

A pancreatic pseudocyst is a circumscribed collection of fluid rich in pancreatic enzymes, blood, and non-necrotic tissue, typically located in the lesser sac of the abdomen. Pancreatic pseudocysts are usually complications of pancreatitis,^[5] although in children they frequently occur following abdominal trauma. Pancreatic pseudocysts account for approximately 75% of all pancreatic masses.^[6]

Signs and symptoms

Signs and symptoms of pancreatic pseudocyst include abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, vomiting and lack of appetite.^[1]

Complications

Complications of pancreatic pseudocysts include infection, hemorrhage, obstruction of nearby hollow structures, and rupture. For obstruction, it can cause compression in the GI tract (from the stomach to the colon), urinary system, biliary system, and arteriovenous system.^{[medical citation needed]}

Causes

Pancreatic pseudocyst can occur due to a variety of reasons, among them pancreatitis (chronic), pancreatic neoplasm and/or pancreatic trauma.^[2]

Pathophysiology

Pancreatic pseudocysts are sometimes called false cysts because they do not have an epithelial lining. The wall of the pseudocyst is vascular and fibrotic, encapsulated in the area around the pancreas. Pancreatitis or abdominal trauma can cause its formation.^[7] Treatment usually depends on the mechanism that brought about the pseudocyst. Pseudocysts take up to 6 weeks to completely form.^[8]

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of pancreatic pseudocyst can be based on cyst fluid analysis:^[3]

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and CA-125 (low in pseudocysts and elevated in tumors);
Fluid viscosity (low in pseudocysts and elevated in tumors);
Amylase (usually high in pseudocysts and low in tumors)

The most useful imaging tools are:

Ultrasonography^[9] – the role of ultrasonography in imaging the pancreas is limited by patient habitus, operator experience and the fact that the pancreas lies behind the stomach (and so a gas-filled stomach will obscure the pancreas).
Computerized tomography^[10] – this is the gold standard for initial assessment and follow-up.
Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) – to establish the relationship of the pseudocyst to the pancreatic ducts, though not routinely used^[11]

Treatment

Pancreatic pseudocyst treatment should be aimed at avoiding any complication (1 in 10 cases become infected). They also tend to rupture, and have shown that larger cysts have a higher likelihood to become more symptomatic, even needing surgery.^[12] If no signs of infection are present, initial treatment may include conservative measures such as bowel rest (NPO), parenteral nutrition (TPN), and observation. If symptoms do not improve, then endoscopic drainage may be necessary. The majority of pseudocysts can be treated endoscopically; surgical intervention is rarely necessary.^[13]

In the event of surgery:

Cystogastrostomy: In this surgical procedure a connection is created between the back wall of the stomach and the cyst such that the cyst drains into the stomach.^[4]
Cystojejunostomy: In this procedure a connection is created between the cyst and the small intestine so that the cyst fluid directly into the small intestine.^[14]
Cystoduodenostomy: In this procedure a connection is created between the duodenum (the first part of the intestine) and the cyst to allow drainage of the cyst content into duodenum.^[15] The type of surgical procedure depends on the location of the cyst. For pseudocysts that occur in the head of the pancreas a cystoduodenostomy is usually performed.^[16]

References

^ ^a ^b "Pancreatic pseudocyst: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia". www.nlm.nih.gov. Retrieved 2015-08-10.
^ ^a ^b Atluri, Pavan (2005-01-01). The Surgical Review: An Integrated Basic and Clinical Science Study Guide. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. ISBN 9780781756419.
^ ^a ^b "Pancreatic Pseudocysts: Practice Essentials, Background, Pathophysiology". 2023-06-13. Retrieved 2024-08-17.
^ ^a ^b Rosenthal, Raul J. (1995). Phillips, Edward H. (ed.). Operative strategies in laparoscopic surgery. Berlin Heidelberg: Springer. p. 136. ISBN 978-3-540-59214-3. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
^ Habashi S, Draganov PV (January 2009). "Pancreatic pseudocyst". World J. Gastroenterol. 15 (1): 38–47. doi:10.3748/wjg.15.38. PMC 2653285. PMID 19115466.
^ Beger, Hans G.; Buchler, Markus; Kozarek, Richard; Lerch, Markus; Neoptolemos, John P.; Warshaw, Andrew; Whitcomb, David; Shiratori, Keiko (2009-01-26). The Pancreas: An Integrated Textbook of Basic Science, Medicine, and Surgery. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 9781444300130.
^ Ignatavicius, Donna (2016). Medical surgical nursing. Elsevier. p. 1226. ISBN 978-1-4557-7255-1.
^ Lillemoe, Keith (2013). Master techniques in Surgery. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. p. 147. ISBN 978-1-60831-172-9.
^ Aghdassi AA, Mayerle J, Kraft M, Sielenkämper AW, Heidecke CD, Lerch MM (2006). "Pancreatic pseudocysts - when and how to treat?". HPB (Oxford). 8 (6): 432–41. doi:10.1080/13651820600748012. PMC 2020756. PMID 18333098.
^ Aghdassi A, Mayerle J, Kraft M, Sielenkämper AW, Heidecke CD, Lerch MM (March 2008). "Diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic pseudocysts in chronic pancreatitis". Pancreas. 36 (2): 105–12. doi:10.1097/MPA.0b013e31815a8887. PMID 18376299. S2CID 1964674.
^ Khanna, A. K.; Tiwary, Satyendra K.; Kumar, Puneet (2012). "Pancreatic Pseudocyst: Therapeutic Dilemma". International Journal of Inflammation. 2012: 1–7. doi:10.1155/2012/279476. PMC 3345229. PMID 22577595.
^ "Pancreatic pseudocyst Treatment". Medscape.com. eMedicine. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
^ Elta, GH; Enestvedt, BK; Sauer, BG; Lennon, AM (April 2018). "ACG Clinical Guideline: Diagnosis and Management of Pancreatic Cysts". The American Journal of Gastroenterology. 113 (4): 464–479. doi:10.1038/ajg.2018.14. PMID 29485131. S2CID 3584079.
^ Hughes, Steven (2015-03-26). Operative Techniques in Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. ISBN 9781496319067.
^ Skandalakis, Lee J.; Skandalakis, John E. (2013-11-08). Surgical Anatomy and Technique: A Pocket Manual. Springer Science & Business Media. ISBN 9781461485636.
^ Scott-Conner, Carol (2009). Scott-Conner & Dawson: Essential Operative Techniques and Anatomy. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. p. 455. ISBN 978-1-4511-5172-5.