Pancreatic pseudocyst in children: about 7 cases

Pancreatic pseudocyst is a rare benign condition, in particular among children. It is an intra or extra pancreatic juice collection lacking of an epithelial lining. We conducted a retrospective study of 7 children whose medical record data were collected in the Department of Paediatric Surgery at the University Hospital Hassan II in Fez, over a period of 11 years, from 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2016. All children were male, their average age was 6.6 years (15 months - 12 years). An history of abdominal trauma was found in 4 cases, abdominal bloating, pain, vomiting and transit disorders were the primary reason for consultation. Clinical examination showed epigastric tenderness and an alteration of the general state in all cases. Abdominal ultrasound as well as abdominal CT scan helped to diagnose pancreatic pseudocyst before surgery. Six patients, out of a total of seven, underwent surgery; we opted for internal bypass (gastro-cystic anastomosis) in 4 cases, external bypass in 2 cases and therapeutic abstention in one case. Pancreatic pseudocysts are rare. Nevertheless, they are the most frequent (80% of pancreatic cystic lesions are pseudocysts and due to acute and/or chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic trauma or pancreatic ductal obstruction).