Pancreatic cystic lesions are fluid-filled tumors on your pancreas. They can be benign or cancerous. They may not cause any issues in most people, and often have no underlying cause.
Symptoms
If you do have symptoms of pancreatic cystic lesions, they might include:
- Pain in your abdomen
- Back pain
- Weight loss
- Lack of appetite
- Bloating
- Indigestion
- Nausea
- Light, greasy bowel movements
- Jaundice (yellow skin)
Treatment
Because most pancreatic cysts don't cause issues, your provider might recommend surveillance. This means you'll have imaging tests once in a while to see if the cysts have changed size. If they haven't changed in size or have gotten smaller, you won't need to do anything. If they get bigger, it may be a sign that they are turning into cancer. In this case, your doctor will likely remove the cysts.
Risk Factors
Risk factors for pancreatic cystic lesions include:
- Aging
- Pancreatitis
- Family history of pancreatic cancer
- Polycystic kidney disease
- Von Hippel-Lindau disease
- Cystic fibrosis
Departments and Programs Who Treat This Condition
department
Gastroenterology
BMC’s Gastroenterology team provides everything you need to thrive with conditions ranging from peptic ulcers to IBD, cancer, motility issues, and liver conditions. We offer a hol…