Pancreatic Cysts – Symptoms and Causes
Understanding the Pancreas and Related Health Issues
The pancreas is a large organ situated behind the stomach in the upper abdomen. It plays a vital role in digestion and hormone production.
Pancreatic cysts are fluid-filled sacs that can form on or within this organ. These cysts are often discovered accidentally during imaging tests performed for other medical concerns.
Pancreatic cysts fall into two main categories: nonneoplastic and neoplastic. These categories include various subtypes such as pseudocysts, serous cystadenomas, and mucinous cystic neoplasms.
While most pancreatic cysts are not cancerous and don’t cause symptoms, some can be or become cancerous over time.
Medical Approaches
To determine if a pancreatic cyst contains cancer cells, doctors may take a fluid sample from the cyst for testing. In many cases, healthcare providers recommend monitoring cysts with regular check-ups to watch for changes that might indicate cancer development.
Doctors use various imaging techniques to examine pancreatic cysts. These include CT scans, MRI scans, and endoscopic ultrasound.
Regular monitoring helps doctors make informed decisions about treatment options based on any changes in the cyst’s appearance or composition.
Signs of Pancreatic Cysts
Most pancreatic cysts don’t cause symptoms. Doctors often find them by accident during imaging tests done for other reasons.
When symptoms do appear, they may include:
- Ongoing stomach pain that might spread to your back
- Feeling sick and throwing up
- Losing weight without trying
- Getting full quickly during meals
When to see a doctor
Contact your doctor right away if you have a fever along with ongoing stomach pain. These symptoms might mean your cyst is infected.
In rare cases, pancreatic cysts can break open. This is an emergency situation that needs immediate medical care. A broken cyst can lead to a serious infection in your abdominal cavity, called peritonitis.
Causes
Most pancreatic cysts develop for unknown reasons. Some people get cysts when they have certain rare health conditions like polycystic kidney disease or von Hippel-Lindau disease, which is a genetic disorder affecting multiple organs including the pancreas.
Pseudocysts typically form after a person experiences pancreatitis, a painful condition where digestive enzymes activate too early and irritate the pancreas. Physical trauma to the abdomen, such as injuries from car accidents, can also lead to pseudocyst formation.
Risk Factors
Several factors can increase your chance of developing pancreatic pseudocysts:
- Heavy alcohol consumption – Regularly drinking large amounts of alcohol.
- Gallstones – Hard deposits that form in the gallbladder.
- Pancreatitis – Inflammation of the pancreas.
- Abdominal trauma – Injury to the stomach area.
These conditions can damage the pancreas, leading to fluid collection that may develop into pseudocysts.
Prevention
The best way to prevent pseudocysts is to avoid developing pancreatitis. Gallstones and heavy alcohol use are common causes of pancreatitis. If gallstones trigger your pancreatitis, you might need gallbladder removal surgery.
For alcohol-related pancreatitis, stopping alcohol consumption can significantly lower your risk. Making these lifestyle changes early can help protect your pancreatic health.
