Pancreatic cysts are fairly common and often small. Some people feel minor pain or discomfort. But many have no symptoms at all. Often, people don’t know they have a cyst until it appears on an imaging scan done for another reason. 

Our team of experts includes:

• Cancer doctors (oncologists)
• Diagnostic and interventional radiologists
• Interventional endoscopists
• Pain-management specialists
• Pancreas specialists (pancreatologists)
• Pancreatic surgeons
• Pathologists

Whenever possible, we use minimally invasive therapy. This means you spend less time in the hospital, heal faster, and have better outcomes. If you need specialized care or cancer treatment, we can connect you with the right experts. Our trained nurses provide patient education and can answer your questions and concerns.

Conditions We Treat

We treat a variety of pancreas problems, including:

• Acute pancreatitis
• Ampullary masses (a growth in the small opening where the bile duct and pancreatic duct meet)
• Autoimmune pancreatitis
• Bile duct abnormalities
• Chronic pancreatitis
• Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (a condition where your pancreas doesn’t make enough digestive enzymes needed to properly break down food)
• High-risk pancreas cancer screening
• Indeterminate pancreas cyst
• Neuroendocrine tumors
• Pancreatic masses
• Pancreatic cysts (growths) including:
   
  • Cystic pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor
  • Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm
  • Mucinous cystic neoplasm
  • Pseudocysts
  • Serous cystadenoma
  • Solid pseudopapillary neoplasm
• Walled-off pancreatic necrosis

Diagnosis and Treatment

We start by reviewing your medical history. We check whether anyone in your family has had cancer of the pancreas, liver, stomach, colon, or gallbladder. Then we review any imaging tests you have. We may also do additional imaging tests, such as:

• Computed tomography scan
• Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
• Endoscopic ultrasound and pancreas cyst biopsy
• Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography
• Magnetic resonance imaging
• Pathology and molecular analysis of pancreatic cyst fluid

If your cyst is not cancer and you are not in pain, we may just monitor the cyst. Some cysts get better on their own. We may do a computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging scan every 6 or 12 months to see if there is any change. We strive to find any changes as early as possible. We may need to drain or remove a cyst.

Pancreatic Cancer Early Detection Program

Some people have an increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer. Risk factors include:

• A family history of pancreatic cancer
• Certain inherited genes (e.g., BRCA2, BRCA1, PALB2, ATM, CDK2NA)
• Peutz Jeghers syndrome
• Lynch syndrome
• Hereditary pancreatitis

If you and your family are at risk, we can assess you for pancreatic cancer.

Why Mount Sinai South Nassau

Our experts have a lot of experience with diagnosing and treating pancreatic cysts. We have helped develop national and international guidelines on best practices for pancreas care.

In addition, Mount Sinai South Nassau has been designated a Center of Excellence for Adult Pancreatitis by the National Pancreas Foundation as well as a Center of Excellence for Pancreatic Cancer. We are also a National Pancreas Foundation Pancreatic Cancer Center. This means we meet strict criteria developed by experts and patient advocates.

We are involved in a number of research studies about diagnosing and treating pancreatic cysts. This means that as our patient, you have access to the very latest approaches.