A CASE OF THE SPLENIC PSEUDOCYST COMBINED WITH ACUTE ATTACK OF CHRONIC PANCREATITIS

Pseudocyst of the spleen is an uncommon entity. Since it has epitheilial cells in the cystic wall, the etiology is still obscure. This paper describes a patient with splenic pseudocyst associated with acute attack of chronic pancreatitis, together with a review of the literature including some discussion on the etiology. A 44-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital because of abdominal pain. Under a diagnosis of acute pancreatitis, she underwent conservative therapy. A abdominal X-ray examination, ultrasonography, and abdominal CT demonstrated a cystic lesion of the spleen. A splenectomy was performed on August 31, 1995. Exploration of the abdominal cavity revealed a splenic cyst and no adhesion between the spleen and pancreas. On the histopathological examination, it was diagnosed as splenic pseudocyst. In postoperative course, she was readmitted for the acute attack of chronic pancreatitis twice and underwent the conservative therapy for each time. This fact would suggest that the patient experienced repeated acute aggravation of chronic pancreatitis. It is thought that there is a correlation between the pancreatic lesions and splenic pseudocyst in this case. When we encounter a pancreatic lesion, imaging diagnosis should be made by entertaining a possible association of splenic lesions.