Pancreatic Cysts - Diagnosis and Treatment at Mercy in Baltimore
It is important to have any cyst found in the pancreas evaluated for pancreatic cancer. The Center for Comprehensive Pancreatic Care at Mercy in Baltimore offers a multidisciplinary specialist team provides expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic disease, including pancreatic cysts, pancreatic cancer, and pancreatitis.
A pancreatic cyst is an abnormal sack-like fluid pocket on or in the pancreas. A pancreatic cyst can be benign, precancerous, or malignant. Often a cyst is not technically a pancreatic cyst, but a pseudocyst, which is lined with inflammatory or scar tissue not with cancerous cells. However, since some cysts found in the pancreas can lead to pancreatic cancer, the cysts should be examined and tested to determine the cyst type.
A pancreatic cyst often does not cause symptoms. If pancreatic cyst symptoms do occur, they can include:
- Persistent abdominal pain that also can be in the back
- A mass in the upper abdomen
- Nausea and vomiting
Most often a pancreatic cyst is found when having an abdominal examination for another reason.
Treatment options for a pancreatic cyst differ depending on the cyst type and symptoms. Many cysts can be left alone unless there are symptoms or the cyst enlarges.
Pancreatic cyst treatments can include:
- Draining the cyst of fluid during an endoscopy
- Surgical removal of enlarged or painful cysts
