Therapeutic strategies for pancreatic pseudocysts: experience in Taiwan

BACKGROUND/AIMS: A retrospective study of Chinese patients with pancreatic pseudocysts to compare the results between non-conservative and conservative treatments, and the use of serial serum amylase and imaging in monitoring treatment success. METHODOLOGY: One hundred and sixty-two pseudocyst patients, treated between 1974 and 2003, were divided into two groups, conservative treatment and interventions (percutaneous needle drainage, internal drainage, or resection), and treatment results for these groups compared. RESULTS: Ninety-one cases (56%) showed spontaneous pseudocyst resolution (mean duration to resolution, 33.4 days). Pseudocyst size was less than 5cm in 86 of these cases (94.5%). Excellent symptomatic responses after aggressive treatment were noted in 68 of 71 patients (93.1%) with pseudocysts larger than 5 cm. All percutaneous tube drainage patients had pseudocyst resolution when the pseudocyst size was less than 5 cm. Hyperamylasemia was noted in 114 cases (70.4%) at diagnosis and returned to normal range in those patients whose cysts underwent spontaneous resolution or who had successful operations. CONCLUSIONS: Pancreatic pseudocysts smaller than 5 cm should have conservative treatment or percutaneous needle drainage. Larger pseudocysts should be treated aggressively. Serum amylase and ultrasound examinations are important to evaluate the occurrence of spontaneous resolution or the need for surgical intervention.