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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffPancreatic cysts are abnormal, sac-like pockets of fluid on or within your pancreas. Though it may be alarming to learn you have a pancreatic cyst, the good news is that most pancreatic cysts aren't cancerous — and many don't even cause symptoms.
In fact, many pancreatic cysts aren't technically cysts at all. Called pseudocysts, these pockets of fluids aren't lined with the type of cells found in true cysts. Instead, a pseudocyst's walls may include cells normally found in other organs, such as the stomach, intestines and the pancreas itself. Pseudocysts are never cancerous.
Your doctor may want to take a sample of the pancreatic cyst fluid to determine whether it's malignant or benign. If your cyst is or can become cancerous, treatment involves surgical removal.
