The Gastrointestinal Cancers Program at Smilow Cancer Hospital offers patients easy access to specialized care for pancreatic cancer, including new approaches to the treatment of the disease through clinical trials.
Pancreatic cysts are collections of fluid located in or on the pancreas. There are two types of pancreatic cysts: non-neoplastic or neoplastic cysts.
Symptoms
Symptoms of pancreatic cysts may not occur, but if they do, you will likely experience:
- Abdominal pain
- Bloating or feeling full when you begin eating
- Nausea or vomiting
- Weight loss
Diagnosis
Imaging technology is used to diagnose pancreatic cysts, including:
- CT scan
- Endoscopic ultrasound
- MRI scan and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP)
Treatment
If you have a cyst that is benign and is not causing pain, it can be monitored. Certain inflammatory cysts causing symptoms or growing can be drained by an endoscope or radiology procedure. Some types of pancreatic cysts require surgical removal if they pose a risk of cancer. We take a multidisciplinary approach to treating and managing pancreatic cysts.
Pancreatitis is inflammation in the pancreas and can be acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term). Mild cases may go away without treatment, but severe cases can cause serious complications.
Symptoms
Symptoms of pancreatitis vary depending on the type you are experiencing, and may be recurrent.
Acute pancreatitis symptoms include:
- Abdomen pain after eating
- Abdomen tenderness
- Fever
- Nausea
- Rapid pulse
- Upper abdomen pain
- Vomiting
Chronic pancreatitis symptoms include:
- Oily stools
- Unintended weight loss
- Upper abdomen pain
Diagnosis
Tests and procedures used to diagnose pancreatitis include:
- Abdominal ultrasound
- Blood tests
- Computerized tomography (CT) scan
- Endoscopic ultrasound
- MRI scan and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP)
- Stool tests
Treatment
Initial treatments aim to give the pancreas time to recover and the inflammation to go down. Once the pancreatitis is under control, the underlying cause of the pancreatitis may be identified and treated. These treatments include:
