Pancreatic cysts are saclike pockets of
fluid on or in your pancreas, a large organ behind the stomach that produces
hormones and enzymes that help digest food.
The pancreas is an organ approximately six
inches long that is located in the abdomen behind the stomach and in front of
the spine and aorta. The pancreas is divided into three regions: the head, the
body, and the tail. The head of the pancreas is located on the right side of
the abdomen adjacent to the duodenum. The tail is on the left side of the
abdomen, and the body lies between the head and the tail.
There are two functional parts to the
pancreas, referred to as the exocrine and endocrine parts. The majority of the
cells of the pancreas produce digestive juices which contain the enzymes
necessary for digesting food in the intestine.
Most pancreatic cysts aren't cancerous, and
many don't cause symptoms. They're typically found during imaging testing for
another problem. Some are actually noncancerous (benign) pockets of fluids
lined with scar or inflammatory tissue, not the type of cells found in true
cysts (pseudocysts).
But some pancreatic cysts can be or can
become cancerous. Your doctor might take a sample of the pancreatic cyst fluid
to determine if cancer cells are present. Or your doctor might recommend
monitoring a cyst over time for changes that indicate cancer.
