Pancreatic Cysts
Medical Author: Dennis Lee, MD
Medical Editor: Jay W. Marks, MD
What is the pancreas?
The pancreas is an organ approximately six inches long that is located in the
abdomen behind the stomach. The pancreas is divided into three regions; the
head, the body, and the tail. The head of the pancreas is located in the right
abdomen adjacent to the duodenum, the tail is in the left abdomen, and the body
lies between the head and the tail.
The pancreas makes several hormones that are released into the
blood--including insulin to regulate blood glucose levels (see the
Diabetes Mellitus article)-as well as digestive enzymes that aid in the digestion of
food, for example, amylase. The digestive enzymes produced by the pancreas are
combined in a bicarbonate-rich fluid also produced by the pancreas. The
pancreatic duct within the pancreas collects the bicarbonate-rich fluid and
digestive enzymes and drains them into the duodenum, the first part of the small
intestine just beyond the stomach.
The common duct (also called the common bile duct) collects bile (a fluid
that helps digest fat) produced by the liver. Like the pancreatic duct, the
common duct also drains into the duodenum. In fact, the common duct usually
joins the pancreatic duct in the head of the pancreas. The union of these two
ducts forms the ampulla of Vater which drains both bile and pancreatic fluid
into the duodenum.
What are pancreatic cysts?
Pancreatic cysts are collections (pools) of fluid within the head, body, or
tail of the pancreas. Some pancreatic cysts are true cysts, that is, they are
lined by a special layer of cells that are responsible for secreting fluid into
the cysts. Other cysts are pseudocysts and do not contain specialized lining
cells. Pancreatic cysts can range from several millimeters to several
centimeters in size. Many pancreatic cysts are benign and produce no symptoms,
but some cysts are cancerous or precancerous. (Precancerous cysts are benign
cysts that have the potential to become cancerous.)
Different types of cysts contain different types of fluids. For example,
pseudocysts that form after an attack of acute pancreatitis contain digestive
enzymes such as amylase in high concentrations. Mucinous cysts contain mucus (a
proteinaceous liquid produced by the mucinous cells that form the inside lining
of the cyst).
Next: What are the symptoms of pancreatic cysts? »
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