Poster - 23
Giant Bilobulated Congenital Pancreatic Cyst Mimicking a Mesenteric Cyst in a 1-Year-Old Girl: A Case Report
İbrahim Baytar 1, Betül Beyza Özbal 1, Aziret Kalybekov 1, Birgül Karaaslan 1, Fatma Saraç 2
1 ISTANBUL BASAKSEHİR CAM VE SAKURA CİTY HOSPİTAL PEDİATRİC SURGERY
2 Basaksehir Cam and Sakura City Hospital Department of Pediatric Surgery, Istanbul, Turkey.
Introduction
Cystic lesions of the pancreas are extremely rare in childhood. True congenital pancreatic cysts (CPCs) account for approximately 1% of all pediatric pancreatic cysts. Their preoperative diagnosis is challenging because they are often asymptomatic, may reach a large size, and can mimic other intra-abdominal cystic lesions such as mesenteric cysts, enteric duplication cysts, or lymphatic malformations. We report a case of a giant bilobulated congenital pancreatic cyst that was initially diagnosed as a mesenteric cyst but was found intraoperatively to originate from the pancreas.
Case Presentation
A 1-year-old girl presented with progressively increasing abdominal distension. Abdominal ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a giant cystic lesion in the left upper quadrant, with the largest component measuring 95 × 83 mm. Based on the radiological findings, the differential diagnosis included a mesenteric cyst, enteric duplication cyst, and lymphatic malformation. Exploratory laparotomy was performed for definitive diagnosis and treatment. Intraoperatively, the lesion was found to arise directly from the tail of the pancreas and consisted of two anatomically connected large cystic components measuring approximately 10 × 10 cm and 6 × 6 cm. Complete excision was achieved by spleen-preserving distal partial pancreatectomy while carefully preserving the spleen and the main splenic vessels. Analysis of the aspirated cyst fluid demonstrated an amylase level of 21,190 U/L and a lipase level >56,698 U/L, confirming the pancreatic origin of the lesion. The patient had an uneventful postoperative recovery and was discharged on postoperative day 8.
Conclusion
Although true congenital pancreatic cysts are rare, they should be considered in the differential diagnosis of large benign-appearing intra-abdominal cystic masses, particularly in infants presenting with abdominal distension. Preoperative imaging alone may not establish the diagnosis; therefore, intraoperative findings and pancreatic enzyme analysis of cyst fluid are crucial for accurate diagnosis. Spleen-preserving distal partial pancreatectomy with complete cyst excision is a safe and effective approach that provides both definitive diagnosis and curative treatment in appropriately selected patients.

