Solitary Occult Retention Cysts of the Pancreas

Abstract

Eight patients with long standing intermittent abdominal pain were found to have solitary cysts in the head of the pancreas. These cysts were demonstrated by retrograde pancreatography but could not be either visualized or palpated at operation. In only two cases was there sufficient clinical evidence to make a diagnosis of pancreatitis; in the remaining six the demonstration of a cyst was the first evidence of any abnormality that could account for their symptoms.