28cm x 15cm pancreatic cyst and pregnant

I went into hospital about 10 days ago to rule out an ectopic pregnancy.  Whilst in there a large mass was found in my abdomen which, following an ultrasound scan, showed a very large pancreatic cyst from the tail measuring a huge 28cm x 15cm.  It is so large it is compromising the pregnancy as there is no room for my uterus to expand!  I am currently waiting to see the gastrenterologist (it will hopefully be this coming week).  I have done a lot of research since being told this and cannot find anywhere anyone who has had a cyst as large as this, with one exception - there is a very rare condition in pregnancy that causes these enormous cysts, the cyst "feeds" off oestrogen and pregoesterone and is mucinous and has to removed by surgery.

My abdomen is swollen to extreme, I am only 8 weeks pregnant but look about 7 months pregnant.  All around my rib cage on both sides and also into the back on my left feels bruised and tender.  I get hungry but I can only eat small amounts and after eating I am extremely uncomfortable.  I have terrible acid regurgitation, awful gas (both ends) and I am having trouble going to the toilet - it can be 2 to 3 days before I can have a bowel movement.  I am also extremely tired but this could be down to pregnancy hormones.

I have not lost weight, in fact the opposite.  A week after discovering I was pregnant my stomach had bloated out and I had gained 4lbs.  I have now gained a total of 7lbs and I'm thinking this is the weight of the fluid in the cyst maybe?

Has anyone else ever had a pancreatic cyst of this size?  I should also add that I have had no previous problems with my pancreas, never had pancreatitis, I am not an alcoholic, I have had no blunt trauma to my abdomen nor surgery.

[bernie40]

anyone?

[bernie40]

It seems there is nobody who has any experience of this, hence the lack of response, so I'm going to update what happens with me just in case anyone in the future has any questions regarding a pancreatic cyst either with or without a connection to the pregnancy.

I finally have an appointment booked for next Tuesday.  Current symptoms are tenderness/discomfort under my ribs and radiating into my back on the left, unable to have a bowel movement for up to 3 days but don't have a "need to go" before then (ie, I'm not constipated as I'm not trying to go, if that makes sense), on and off nausea, severe discomfort after eating and acid regurgitation.  Whole abdomen is severely bloated.

[ggreg]

I have not had a growth on my pancreas.  But I do not understand why the hospital didn't go ahead and operate while they had you in the hospital.  Hospitals have gastro surgeons, OB-GYN people, endocrinologists on staff or on call, they could have consulted together and made a decision on whether it was okay to go ahead and take that growth out of there.  Making you wait to see a gastro on the outside is a waste of time.

I would recommend you call your OB-GYN's office, ask for a squeeze-in emergency appointment, and go on in and tell her about this pancreatic cyst, and ask her to make arrangements to determine if it's okay to get that thing outta there.  And of course if you get the appointment to see the gastro, go ahead and see him too.  But you need to see your baby doc now.

Oh, and the pancreatic growth is how come you have all your symptoms, the bloating, upset digestion, and so forth.  It's pushing everything in its path out of place.  You could try posting over in the pregnancy forum, too, might get more replies.  But hope this helps clarify things a little for you.

[ggreg]

I forgot where you mentioned you have a Tues appointment with the gastro, but still try to get in to see your OB-GYN today or tomorrow or Monday.

[bernie40]

hi thanks for posting.  It was my ob-gyn that discovered the mass and once the ultrasound showed it wasn't gynae related he said "oh it's above the belly button, nothing to do with me you need to see a gastroenterologist"!  He did say that the mass is preventing any growth for the pregnancy but that this won't start to cause a problem till I get to 12 weeks (I'm 9 weeks this week).  My family and I are horrified that they discharged me instead of calling the gastro consultant to come and see me there and then.  The ob-gyn's said that as I was "generally in good health" he wasn't immediately worried???!!!!

I have now discovered that the gastroenterologist i am seeing on Tuesday specialises in hepatology and not the pancreas and it will literally be a history taking exercise for referral to a more specialised consultant.

I should point out that I'm in the UK, the medical system is very different here and we are at the mercy of waiting lists :(  I feel so frustrated and let down, not to mention scared of what might be going on with this cyst and the risks to the baby.

I've mentioned it in the pregnancy forums I'm in but nobody has heard of it.  The World Journal of Gastroenterology states that a cyst caused by pregnancy hormones (which is mucinous and high risk for pre-cancerous or cancerous cells) is incredibly rare, 8 cases in over 20 years!  I shall be taking the article with me when I see the consultant on Tuesday.

Again, many thanks for taking the time to respond.