• A pancreatic pseudocyst in the tail of the pancreas has been ressected together with the spleen

• The original pancreatic inflammation which led to the pseudocyst has also led to adherance with the spleen

• The pseudocyst has a shaggy lining and is surrounded by dense white scar consistent with its inflammatory origin

• Sequel to either acute or chronic pancreatitis

• Residuum of necrotic pancreatic tissue

• Associated with alcohol, gallstones or other etiologies of pancreatitis

• Treatment by drainage into stomach or resection

• Usually unilocular intra- or peripancreatic cyst containing heterogeneous material including old blood

• Wall may be very dense

• May communicate with pancreatic duct system

• Pseudocyst has no epithelial lining and contains blood clot, hemosiderin laden macrophages, cholesterol clefts.

• Cotran RS, Kumar V, Robbins SL: Robbins Pathologic Basis of Disease. 5th ed. Philadelphia, W.B. Saunders, 1994, pp. 904.

• Current literature from PubMed at National Library of Medicine