The pancreas — a spongy, tadpole-shaped organ located behind the stomach — makes enzymes our bodies need to digest food and hormones to regulate blood sugar levels. If the pancreas is injured, its ducts, which carry enzyme-containing juices, can become blocked. This can lead to the development of a fluid-filled sac called a pancreatic pseudocyst.
A pseudocyst isn’t a true cyst, because the wall of the sac is not composed of a specific lining of cells characteristic of a true cyst.
The most common cause of damage to the pancreas is inflammation, called pancreatitis. A less common cause or contributor is trauma, such as a blow to the abdomen. Pancreatitis is most commonly caused by alcohol abuseand gallstones.
Rarely, pseudocysts form on the spleen, an organ of the lymphatic system, which fights infection and keeps body fluids in balance. When a pseudocyst of the spleen happens, it is usually caused by trauma.
Here’s what you need to know about pseudocysts and their treatment.
Pseudocyst Symptoms
Although the symptoms of pseudocysts may be different for different people, some of the most common are abdominal pain and bloating.
Other symptoms may include:
- nausea
- vomiting
- loss of appetite
- weight loss
- diarrhea
- fever
- a tender mass in abdomen
- yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)
- fluid buildup in the abdominal cavity
If you have any of these symptoms, you should see your doctor to determine the cause.
Pseudocyst Treatment
Often pseudocysts get better and go away on their own. If a pseudocyst is small and not causing serious symptoms, a doctor may want to monitor it with periodic CT scans. If the pseudocyst persists, gets larger, or causes pain, it will require surgical treatment. If not monitored or treated, a pseudocyst can become infected or rupture, causing severe pain, blood loss and abdominal infection.
Surgery for Pseudocysts
For pseudocysts requiring treatment, surgery is usually necessary. During surgery to correct a pseudocyst, the surgeon usually makes a connection between the pseudocyst and a nearby digestive organ. This allows the pseudocyst to drain through that organ. Depending on the location of the pseudocyst within the pancreas, that connection may be with the stomach, small intestine, or duodenum, the upper end of the small intestine.
In some cases, this surgery is done laparoscopically. That means it’s performed through small incisions in the abdomen, using slender tools and a lighted scope. This procedure minimizes hospitalization and recovery time.
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