PANCREATIC HEAD ENLARGEMENT ASSOCIATED WITH A PANCREATITIS-INDUCED INTRASPLENIC PSEUDOCYST IN A PATIENT WITH CHRONIC-PANCREATITIS - ORGAN-PRESERVING SURGICAL-TREATMENT

Intrasplenic pseudocyst is a rare form of a late complication of chron ic pancreatitis. We report the case of a 30-year-old man with an intra splenic pseudocyst associated with chronic alcoholic pancreatitis. The patient was admitted with the third acute phase of chronic relapsing pancreatitis. Abdominal US and CT showed a large cyst in the pancreati c tail with involvement of the spleen. ERCP revealed marked irregulari ties of the main pancreatic duct without communication to the large cy st and a narrowing of the distal common bile duct by chronic pancreati tis of the head of the pancreas. Organ preserving surgical treatment w ith duodenum- preserving resection. of the head of the pancreas combin ed with distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy was performed. This proc edure may be indicated in selected patients to preserve functional pan creatic tissue and prevent diabetes. It should be in the armamentarium of the specialized pancreatic surgeon.