Author/Authors :
Matsusue, Eiji Department of Radiology - Tottori Prefectural Central Hospital, Japan , Fujihara, Yoshio Department of Radiology - Tottori Prefectural Central Hospital, Japan , Maeda, Kazunori Department of Gastroenterology - Tottori Prefectural Central Hospital, Japan , Okamoto, Masaru Department of General Medicine - Tottori Prefectural Central Hospital, Japan , Yanagitani, Atsushi Department of Gastroenterology - Tottori Prefectural Central Hospital, Japan , Tanaka, Kiwamu Department of Gastroenterology - Tottori Prefectural Central Hospital, Japan , Nakamura, Kazuhiko Department of Radiology - Tottori Prefectural Central Hospital, Japan , Ogawa, Toshihide 4Division of Radiology - Department of Pathophysiological Therapeutic Science - Tottori University, Japan
Abstract :
A rare complication of acute or chronic pancreatitis is the formation of a mediastinal pancreatic pseudocyst (MPP), which is caused by tracking of pancreatic fluids through anatomical openings of the diaphragm into the mediastinum. Herein, we report the imaging characteristics of three cases of this condition. Our results revealed three features in common: (i) the connection between the mediastinum and the pancreatic cystic lesion; (ii) the presence of pleural effusions; and (iii) imaging findings consistent with chronic pancreatitis, such as pancreatic atrophy and calcifications and dilatation and/or stricture of main pancreatic duct (MPD). Serial diameter changes of the MPD and of the adjacent pseudocysts were necessary for the determination of the therapeutic strategy used in each case.
Keywords :
Pancreatic pseudocyst , mediastinal extension , thoracopancreatic fistula , management strategy , computed tomography (CT)
