Pancreatic Fluid Collections

What is a Pancreatic Fluid Collection (PFC)?

PFCs are defined as a collection of fluid or solid contents around the pancreas.  The pancreas is an abdominal organ that is located behind the lower section of the stomach. It helps by aiding digestion and providing hormones that help manage blood sugar.

What Types of Fluid Collections Are There?

There are various kinds of PFCs, but the most common type is a pancreatic pseudocyst. A pseudocyst occurs as a result of an injury to the pancreas. They are filled with fluid. In some cases when they become large enough, then result in symptoms of fever, pain, nausea or vomiting.

Another PFC is walled off pancreatic necrosis, which is also referred to as “WOPN”. In years past, it was also known as a pancreatic abscess. The difference between this and a pseudocyst is that WOPN are filled with solid tissue debris and can be more difficult to resolve than a pseudocyst.

How are PFCs Diagnosed?

As with most medical conditions, the first thing that a physician will ask for is a clinical history. This is because some cysts are more common among people with specific traits. For instance, if you have had an instance of acute pancreatitis, it’s more likely your fluid collection will be a WOPN or pseudocyst.

In addition to a history, your doctor will most likely use computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to take a photo of the fluid collection for the doctor to look at. These are comfortable tests that impart no pain, and often give an excellent idea of what type of fluid collection is present.

How are PFCs Treated?

Only PFCs that are causing a patient clinical symptoms require treatment.  Depending on the size, location and contents of the PFCs various approaches to drainage can be taken.  The gold standard therapy for draining pseudocysts is EUS .  Previously patients required invasive abdominal surgeries with incisions into their skin to drain PFCs, but now this can be achieved with little pain and no scares on an outpatient basis by a procedure known as EUS-guided cystgastrostomy .

For more complicated PFCs such as WOPN, endoscopic drainage is quickly becoming a first line approach as well.  Dr. Kedia works at Methodist Dallas Medical Center, which is the first hospital in the nation to be recognized for excellence in management of acute pancreatitis and complications such as PFCs.

Treating Pancreatic Fluid Collection in Dallas, Tx

Are you interested in learning more about PFCs or other conditions such as acute pancreatitis? We invite you to contact us to learn more. Dr. Prashant Kedia is a therapeutic endoscopist and gastroenterologist serving patients in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and beyond. Call today to schedule an appointment at (214) 941-6891.

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