Pancreatic Cyst Program

The Pancreatic Cyst Program at Ochsner offers a multidisciplinary, individualized approach to helping patients navigate the diagnosis and management of pancreatic cysts.  Our program is designed to help patients determine a diagnostic, surveillance, and treatment strategy that is individualized to a patient’s medical condition, beliefs and needs.   

What are Cysts?

Pancreatic cysts can be described as pockets of fluid that arise in the pancreas.  Cysts are often found incidentally or are discovered as etiology of abdominal pain.  Cysts are typically characterized as benign, premalignant or malignant.   Some cysts require no observation or follow up.  Often cysts require long term follow up and surveillance over the course of many years.  Inflammatory cysts (pseudocyst) may require surgical or endoscopic intervention to prevent complications and/or manage symptoms.  Occasionally cysts require surgery.  Many require surveillance using a combination of endoscopy and radiology studies to follow a cysts size or characteristics.

Why Ochsner?

Ochsner Medical Center – Jefferson Highway is a 600 bed tertiary referral hospital easily accessible from major interstates.  The gastroenterologists at Ochsner have all undergone specialized training in advanced endoscopic techniques such as Endoscopic Ultrasound and ERCP.  The physicians perform over 1500 EUS procedures a year. Our surgical oncologists have vast experience in the operative and postoperative techniques of pancreatic surgery. The Ochsner Health System's numerous satellite facilities allow patients to have radiology imaging services performed at any of the Ochsner radiology centers.