[Pseudocysts and retention cysts in acute and chronic pancreatitis (author's transl)]

42 cases of pancreatic cyst in acute (22 cases) pr chronic (20 cases) pancreatitis were seen between 1962 and 1976. Analysis of the case data revealed the following: (1) exact assignment of the cyst to acute or chronic pancreatitis is often possible only by long-term observation; (2) the cysts of chronic pancreatitis are not a uniform group: some (8 cases) apparently occurred in acute pancreatitis through necrotic episodes (pseudocysts), others (12 cases) by a retention mechanism; these "retention cysts" develop later in the course of chronic pancreatitis than the pseudocysts and produce a different clinical picture with better prognosis; (3) barium meal and retrograde cholangiopancreatography proved of diagnostic value' (4) if the cysts persist for more than six weeks operation is indicated because of the high incidence of complications.