If you are experiencing pain or bloating in your abdomen region, there may be an issue with your pancreas – a small organ that produces enzymes that help your body break down food. If you visit a doctor, they may decide to do some imaging tests to figure out the cause of your pain. Sometimes, these tests can reveal the presence of a small growth or cyst in or on the pancreas.
These cysts can be benign or cancerous, but if they are causing problems, they’ll need to be treated. Today, we take a closer look at why these cysts develop, and how they are treated.
Causes and Types of Pancreatic Cyst Formation
Medical experts aren’t exactly sure what causes a pancreatic cyst to form, however, many suggest that two factors may play a role in an increased likelihood of developing a pancreatic cyst. Those two factors are genetics and physical trauma, both things that are typically out of your control. However, researchers also suggest that heavy alcohol use may lead to gallbladder inflammation and cyst development in the pancreas, so if you have a family history of cysts or simply want to reduce your risk, cut back on the alcohol intake.
There are a number of different pancreatic cysts that can develop. For example, serous cystadenomas typically grow the largest and can affect nearby organs, but they are rarely cancerous. However, a papillary cystic tumor typically forms in the body or tail of the pancreas, and it usually is cancerous. We’ll dive more into specific types of pancreatic cysts in a future blog.
During the diagnostic stage, your doctor will conduct an imaging test to determine the size, location and potential malignancy of the cyst. CT scans can provide information about the size of a cyst, while an MRI or endoscopic ultrasound typically provide a better image and can also help determine if the growth may be cancerous.
Treating Pancreatic Cysts
Treating a pancreatic cyst depends on the size of the cyst, the symptoms it’s causing and if it is cancerous. Your doctor will walk you through your specific treatment options, but there are typically three courses of treatment.
- Watchful Waiting – If the cyst is benign and isn’t causing problems, your doctor will likely advise to just monitor the problem and to return if symptoms begin to develop.
- Draining – If the cyst is benign, but it’s bothersome or somewhat larger, your doctor may advise for cyst drainage. Using an endoscope (small flexible tube) inserted through your mouth and to your stomach, the cyst is punctured and drained safely. It sounds complicated, but the endoscope provides a live image to the doctor, so they know where they are at throughout the entire procedure.
- Surgery – If the cyst is cancerous or causing problems, surgery may be your only option. How your doctor attacks the cyst depends on a number of factors, but oftentimes it can be removed with a minimally invasive operation.
So if you’re experiencing abdominal pain or you’ve been diagnosed with a pancreatic cyst and you’re looking for a specialist to talk to, reach out to Dr. Michael Koeplin today.
