Pancreatic Cyst Evaluation at Fox Chase
If you’ve recently been told that you have a pancreatic cyst or mass, you may feel a lot of uncertainty about what that means and what you should do. It can be hard to know what steps you should take next, and you may have a lot of questions, including:
- Is my pancreatic cyst cancerous?
- What kind of doctor should I see?
- Where should I go for evaluation?
Are Pancreatic Cysts Cancerous?
It’s not unusual for cysts—balloon-like packets filled with fluid—to form in the pancreas. They usually don’t cause symptoms, and are almost always discovered incidentally during a test performed for other reasons.
Most pancreatic cysts are benign, meaning they’re not cancerous, and they stem from conditions other than cancer—such as inflammation associated with pancreatitis or as a result of abdominal trauma. However, some cysts are considered precancerous, and a small percentage are malignant or can become cancerous over time. Because of this, it’s important to find a team of specialists who will closely monitor your cyst for concerning changes.
Diagnosis
Your physician may want to conduct further evaluation of your pancreatic cyst. How a cyst looks, what’s inside it, and its location in the pancreas can provide clues about its risk of becoming cancerous.
It is important to see a specialist who can determine the appropriate plan for diagnosis and treatment, which could consist of a biopsy, imaging tests, regular surveillance, or surgical removal. At Fox Chase, we see many patients with pancreatic cysts, and we offer specialized expertise for this condition.
Types of Pancreatic Cysts
There are several types of pancreatic cysts. Some are filled with a mucus-like substance called mucin, which can block the ducts that connect the pancreas to the intestine. Mucin-producing cysts have the potential to become malignant, especially if they are larger or have a thickened wall that lights up with contrast on imaging. These types of cysts include:
- Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms: The most common type of precancerous pancreatic cysts, they produce large amounts of mucin in their lining and fluid and are most often found in people older than 50.
- Mucinous cystic neoplasms: These cysts occur primarily in women and have the potential to become cancerous because of nodules or growths on the cyst walls.
Common types of benign pancreatic cysts are:
- Serous cystadenomas: These benign cysts, which contain clear thin fluid, are usually asymptomatic.
- Pseudocysts: Not true cysts, these cysts are lined with inflammatory or scar tissue and usually stem from acute pancreatitis.
Treatment
If your pancreatic cyst contains benign cells and doesn’t present high-risk features on imaging tests, it probably won’t have to be removed. These types of noncancerous cysts include serous cystadenomas and pseudocysts. There is no medical treatment for these cysts, but your doctor will likely recommend imaging tests, endoscopies, and/or biopsies every 6–12 months to look for any changes.
For mucin-producing cysts that are considered precancerous—including intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) and mucinous cystic neoplasms (MCNs)—surgical removal is often recommended to avoid future occurrence of cancer.
Pancreatic Cyst Care at Fox Chase
At Fox Chase, we take pride in providing world-class care for our patients with pancreatic cysts and other diseases.
Fox Chase has:
- Received the highest designation from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) as a Comprehensive Cancer Center, an elite center recognized for excellence in cancer treatment, research, prevention and education. This means our patients receive sophisticated care that includes a wide range of state-of-the-art treatment options.
- Been designated as a National Pancreas Foundation Center of Excellence by the National Pancreas Foundation (NPF), a nonprofit organization that provides support for patients with pancreatic cancer and other pancreas-related diseases. Fox Chase is the only institution in the Philadelphia region to earn this designation, which recognizes medical centers that meet a variety of criteria developed by subject matter experts and patient advocates.
- A dedicated institute (Marvin and Concetta Greenberg Pancreatic Cancer Institute) that is leading the future of research for pancreas-related conditions.
Treatment
If your pancreatic cyst contains benign cells and doesn’t present high-risk features on imaging tests, it probably won’t have to be removed. These types of noncancerous cysts include serous cystadenomas and pseudocysts. There is no medical treatment for these cysts, but your doctor will likely recommend imaging tests, endoscopies, and/or biopsies every 6–12 months to look for any changes.
For mucin-producing cysts that are considered precancerous—including intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) and mucinous cystic neoplasms (MCNs)—surgical removal is often recommended to avoid future occurrence of cancer.
Pancreatic Cyst Care at Fox Chase
At Fox Chase, we take pride in providing world-class care for our patients with pancreatic cysts and other diseases.
Fox Chase has:
- Received the highest designation from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) as a Comprehensive Cancer Center, an elite center recognized for excellence in cancer treatment, research, prevention and education. This means our patients receive sophisticated care that includes a wide range of state-of-the-art treatment options.
- Been designated as a National Pancreas Foundation Center of Excellence by the National Pancreas Foundation (NPF), a nonprofit organization that provides support for patients with pancreatic cancer and other pancreas-related diseases. Fox Chase is the only institution in the Philadelphia region to earn this designation, which recognizes medical centers that meet a variety of criteria developed by subject matter experts and patient advocates.
- A dedicated institute (Marvin and Concetta Greenberg Pancreatic Cancer Institute) that is leading the future of research for pancreas-related conditions.
Scheduling a Pancreatic Cyst Evaluation at Fox Chase
The medical teams at Fox Chase frequently see patients with pancreatic cysts and are ready to provide the best care using the latest diagnostic and therapeutic options.
Call 888-369-2427 or click below to request an appointment online. Phone or video appointments may be available for some patients.