Jorge C. Cairo, Dailen Vega, Julio C. Cairo
A pancreatic pseudocyst is a fluid-filled sac in the abdomen that arises from the pancreas and may contain pancreatic tissue, enzymes, and blood. It is a rare local complication, usually due to rupture of the pancreatic duct in acute or chronic pancreatitis, trauma, or obstruction of the pancreatic duct. This study aimed to describe the importance of abdominal computed tomography (CT) as a confirmatory method for the diagnosis of pancreatic pseudocysts in a patient. A review of the available literature on pancreatic pseudocysts was conducted using the PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and SciELO search engines. We present the case of a 41-year-old white male patient with a history of bronchial asthma, heavy smoking, and chronic alcohol abstinence for the past two months. Four years prior, he presented with acute pancreatitis and was hospitalized. He requested discharge without completing the tests or treatment. The patient presented with abdominal distension, food intolerance, diarrhea, and weight loss. Computed tomography (CT) diagnosed pancreatic pseudocysts. CT, as part of the diagnostic algorithm for suspected pancreatic disorders, provides detailed information on the location, size, and characteristics of the lesions to achieve a definitive diagnosis and guide the best treatment, preventing subsequent complications.