What is a pancreatic cyst?
Pancreatic cysts are pockets of fluid on or in the pancreas, an accessory organ of the digestive system that produces digestive enzymes and hormones. Most pancreatic cysts are not cancerous and usually do not produce symptoms. Some, however, may be precursors to pancreatic cancer.
Once pancreatic cysts are found (usually during an unrelated imaging exam, such as a CT scan or MRI), your physician may need to take a sample of the fluid in the cyst to check for pre-cancerous or cancerous features depending on the size of your cyst.
Since suspicious and previously undiagnosed pancreatic cysts typically lack initial symptoms, yet pancreatic cancer can progress swiftly, the ability to distinguish between benign, pre-cancerous, and cancerous cysts is paramount; timely and precise identification is particularly critical in individuals exhibiting the previously discussed symptoms or risk factors.
Advancements in imaging technology are leading to more frequent detection of pancreatic cysts, and only a physician with the right diagnostic tools can determine if a suspicious pancreatic cyst is cancerous.
It is equally important to determine if a cyst is benign, as not every cyst is cancerous or precancerous. Having a lesion is not a cause for immediate concern; however, not knowing the kind of lesion is cause for concern.