Simple mucinous cyst on the tail

Posted by theflyingewe @theflyingewe, Jun 9 6:23am

Hello! Thanks first for this forum, it is of great help.

I was recently diagnosed with a cyst on the tail of the pancreas. I have had left abdominal pain (under the lowest rib) that radiates in the back and around the thoracic cage since last December.

Long story short I had a couple of CT scans and a pancreatic MRI which identified a 20mm simple mucinous cyst on the tail. Pancreatic main duct is not affected. No aggressive sign (cellular tissue does not take contrast). A few septa (divisions within the cyst). Everything else around looks ok.

I looked up PubMed and a "simple mucinous cyst" looks a bit different from IPMNs and MCNs from what I understand. It's rare (mostly affect women my age [46yo] - it's odd to feel desired that way...) so there is not a lot of data. But it's now also considered as a potential precursor for pancreatic cancer.

I had EUS + gastroscopy + coloscopy at the end of last month. I am waiting for the biopsy results (next GI meeting in 2 weeks).

At the exam, everything looked good (colon, stomach, etc), except for that cyst. It measured 22mm. String test was positive (so mucinous for sure if I understand correctly). 2 parietal nodules that did not take contrast. Main duct was not dilated. (all positive signs, let's say).

Biopsies were taken from colon, stomach and the cyst was punctured. So waiting for the results now.

There is a history of digestive (and other) cancers in my family (both my father and mother - they are both alive I want to add). Including pancreatic cancer if we go a bit wider but I haven't had genetic testing (yet).

I read this cyst is often removed and has low recurrence (if that is indeed that type of cyst). So trying to keep my head up, but I was wondering if anybody had been dealing with that sort of cyst here, or a mucinous cyst on the tail to be less specific.

I have been reading a lot on PubMed and French resources (I live in southern France). Maybe too much and need to get out of my own head 🙂

Warm regards to all of you

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Pancreatic Cancer Support Group.

theflyingewe | @theflyingewe | Jun 9 6:32am

And I forgot:

Lipase is above max threshold but not pancreatitis level. That was first seen in February. It went from 72 to 84 U/L before EUS and down to 66 after puncture.

CA19-9 is low at 10.2 UI/mL.

Rubyslippers | @triciaot | 5 days ago

I just had a MRI for my adrenal glands and baby cysts were found in my pancreas, they’re questioning IPMN because of location. So I’m in the learning stage of what may or may not be a new journey.

@theflyingewe Love your name! Is it a Monty Python reference? Is that you, Harold?

I hope you find some answers here. This forum has been very helpful to me on other topics.

mab18 | @mab18 | 5 days ago

Great

theflyingewe | @theflyingewe | 4 days ago

In reply to @triciaot "I just had a MRI for my adrenal glands and baby cysts were found in my..." + (show)

Are they close to the main duct? Will they be monitored for now, or do you need further investigation?

My mother has a few cysts on her pancreas as well (all about 0.5cm) and they haven't changed/grown or anything in years. Fingers crossed! She doesn't know what type of cyst they are, too many technical terms, she doesn't remember.

It's not Harold :p I love Monty Python but that was not my initial reference. It comes from a French comic book about sheep in the Alps (F'Murr, Le génie des alpages). It's also absurdly funny.

Rubyslippers | @triciaot | 4 days ago

In reply to @theflyingewe "Are they close to the main duct? Will they be monitored for now, or do you..." + (show)

@theflyingewe Here’s what the radiologist wrote, below, the MRI was for the adrenals. My pancreatic cysts are just tiny tiny. The ordering endocrinologist said if I have any other symptoms, she could refer me to a gastroenterologist for a scan. I told her I thought I would want a MRCP in 12 months (or less if they recommend) to track growth and possibly have a definitive diagnosis.

Report:
Tiny cystic pancreatic foci which could reflect sidebranch IPMN. No pancreatic ductal dilatation. Surveillance imaging may be considered with follow-up MRI/MRCP in 6-12 months.
Narrative:
Pancreas: P tiny cystic foci measuring 2-3 mm located along the course of the main duct in the body and tail. Pancreatic divisum morphology. No ductal dilatation..

Thanks for sharing the reference for flying sheep. I looked it up, and used translate to be able to read the Dargaud website. It says the sheep have a high intellectual quota, that it’s a masterpiece of nonsense, drawn with charm. Sounds fun!

Please sign in or register to post a reply.