title: Three cases of mediastinal pancreatic pseudocysts.
abstract: A rare complication of acute or chronic pancreatitis is the formation of a mediastinal pancreatic pseudocyst (MPP), which is caused by tracking of pancreatic fluids through anatomical openings of the diaphragm into the mediastinum. Herein, we report the imaging characteristics of three cases of this condition. Our results revealed three features in common: (i) the connection between the mediastinum and the pancreatic cystic lesion; (ii) the presence of pleural effusions; and (iii) imaging findings consistent with chronic pancreatitis, such as pancreatic atrophy and calcifications and dilatation and/or stricture of main pancreatic duct (MPD). Serial diameter changes of the MPD and of the adjacent pseudocysts were necessary for the determination of the therapeutic strategy used in each case.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Tottori Prefectural Central Hospital, Tottori, Japan.
authors.forename: Eiji
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Matsusue
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Tottori Prefectural Central Hospital, Tottori, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fujihara
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Tottori Prefectural Central Hospital, Tottori, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazunori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Maeda
authors.affiliation: Department of General Medicine, Tottori Prefectural Central Hospital, Tottori, Japan.
authors.forename: Masaru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Okamoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Tottori Prefectural Central Hospital, Tottori, Japan.
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yanagitani
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Tottori Prefectural Central Hospital, Tottori, Japan.
authors.forename: Kiwamu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Tottori Prefectural Central Hospital, Tottori, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.affiliation: Division of Radiology, Department of Pathophysiological Therapeutic Science, Tottori University, Tottori, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshihide
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ogawa
keywords: Pancreatic pseudocyst; computed tomography (CT); management strategy; mediastinal extension; thoracopancreatic fistula