Giant Pancreatic Pseudocyst

often single, but may be multiple; and represent more than 75% of cystic lesions of the pancreas.2 Pancreatic pseudocyst develops in 5-10% cases of acute pancreatitis, and upto 50% of cases of chronic pancreatitis; 3-8% pseudocysts are traumatic in origin.3 A pseudocysts more than 10 cm in size have been termed as being a giant.4 Although pancreatic pseudocyst may be suspected on clinical and laboratory grounds, imaging studies are usually necessary for confirmation. These include ultrasonography, CT scan or MRI. Asymptomatic pseudocysts upto 6 cm in diameter may be safely observed and are usually followed with serial ultrasound or CT scan examinations. Large symptomatic pseudocysts require intervention. Multiple options for drainage are available: endoscopic placement of plastic stent through the stomach or duodenal wall into adjacent cyst; CT or ultrasound guided percutaneous external drainage; or open drainage by cysto-gastrostomy or cysto-jejunostomy. In the absence of life threatening complications, elective surgery is usually delayed until the cyst has developed a mature wall that will hold suture line at the time of repair; usually by 4-6 weeks.5 Acute abdomen is a common surgical emergency encountered in general surgical practice. There should be a high index of suspicion for acute pancreatitis, the incidence is around 4% in local studies.6 The risk of complications in the patients suffering from pancreatitis is around 30%. Amongst those developing complications, about 5% develop local complications like pseudocyst, abscess etc. while rest suffer systemic complications including sepsis, adult respiratory distress syndrome.7 This report describes a giant pancreatic pseudocyst in a male.