ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Pancreatic pseudocysts are localized collections of pancreatic secretions in a cystic structure that lack an epithelial lining and occur as a result of surrounding tissues walling off and containing a pancreatic duct disruption. METHODS: This is paper presents a clinical analysis of 32 cases of pancreatic pseudocysts treated from January 1987 to July 1997 at Pusan Medical Center. RESULTS: The results are summarized briefly as follows: 1) The age and the sex distributions of these patients showed that 19 cases occurred between the 3rd and the 4th decades and the male-to-female ratio was 10.3:1. 2) Pancreatitis was most frequently associated with pancreatic pseudocysts (75%). 3) Common clinical manifestations were abdominal pain (89%), abdominal tenderness (78%), nausea and vomiting (56%), abdominal mass (32%), abdominal distension (31%). 4) Abdominal CT and ultrasound were major diagnostic methods. 5) The location of the peudocysts were the body (41%), head and tail (31%), the tail (22%), and others (6%). 6) The sizes of the pseudocysts were as follows less than 5 cm (5 cases), 5-10 cm (19 cases), above 11 cm (8 cases) in 32 cases. 7) Valuable laboratory data for a pancreatic pseudocyst were blood WBC count (above 10,000/mm in 78%), serum amylase (above 160 unit/L in 62%), urine amylase (above 300 unit/L in 56%), blood glucose (above 110 mg/L in 50%), serum alkaline phosphatase (above 250/L in 44%). 8) The surgical methods in 29 cases were excision (1 case), external drainage (4 cases), cystogastrostomy (7 cases), cystojejunostomy (16 cases), cystoduodenostomy (1 case). 9) Postoperative complications were encountered in 13 cases, and many of the cases involved pulmonary complications and wound infections. CONCLUSIONS: Currently, treatment of patients with pancreatic pseudocysts is based on the clinical setting, the presence or absence of symptoms, the age and size of the pseudocyst, and the presence or absence of complications. In the most common clinical settings, a pseudocyst is discovered after an episode of acute alcoholic pancreatitis.