Mediastinal pancreatic pseudocyst causing displacement of aorta: An unusual presentation

Kunal Chowdhary; Shikhil Uppal; Muzzafar Zaman; Subhash Goyal; Rekha Goyal

Kunal Chowdhary S.C.F‑3, H.U.D.A Complex, Opposite Palika Bazar, Rohtak ‑ 124 001, Haryana, India.
Shikhil Uppal Departments of General Surgery, M.M.I.M.S.R, Mullana, Ambala, Haryana, India.
Muzzafar Zaman Departments of General Surgery, M.M.I.M.S.R, Mullana, Ambala, Haryana, India
Subhash Goyal Departments of General Surgery, M.M.I.M.S.R, Mullana, Ambala, Haryana, India
Rekha Goyal Department of Radiodiagnosis, M.M.I.M.S.R, Mullana, Ambala, Haryana, India

Keywords: Acute pancreatitis, mediasternum, pseudocyst pancreas

Abstract

Pseudocysts are surrounded by a wall composed of collagen and granulation tissue as a sequel of acute pancreatitis. The prevalence of pancreatic pseudocysts in acute pancreatitis has been reported to range from 6% to 18.5%. Pancreatic pseudocysts most commonly arise in patients with alcoholic pancreatitis (from 70% to 78%). The most common location for the disease is the lesser sac but at times the cyst may track along the plane of least resistance to extending into the mediasternum which may or may not be symptomatic. Occurrence of mediastinal pseudocysts is extremely rare with around 50 cases reported in the world literature until date. The incidence of pseudocyst displacing the aorta is even rarer. Owing to its clinical curiosity and rarity we present an unusual case of mediastinal pseudopancreatic cyst.