Computed tomography appearances of various complications associated with pancreatic pseudocysts

Acta Radiol. 2008 Sep;49(7):727-34. doi: 10.1080/02841850802104932.

Abstract

Most pancreatic pseudocysts are common complications of acute or chronic pancreatitis. They usually occur within the pancreas or in peripancreatic tissues, and are visualized as round or oval fluid collections with thin or thick walls on computed tomography (CT) scans. However, pancreatic pseudocysts are often combined with various complications, e.g., various organ involvements, infection, hemorrhage with pseudoaneurysm formation, rupture with fistula formation, or gastrointestinal or biliary obstruction, which may necessitate prompt intervention or surgery. This review illustrates the CT appearances of various complications associated with pancreatic pseudocysts.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Cholestasis / diagnostic imaging
  • Cholestasis / etiology
  • Hemorrhage / diagnostic imaging
  • Hemorrhage / etiology
  • Humans
  • Infections / diagnostic imaging
  • Infections / etiology
  • Intestinal Obstruction / diagnostic imaging
  • Intestinal Obstruction / etiology
  • Pancreatic Pseudocyst / complications*
  • Pancreatic Pseudocyst / diagnostic imaging*
  • Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted
  • Radiography, Interventional
  • Rupture, Spontaneous
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods*