Pancreatic pseudocysts in children: 4 Cases from Uganda

Abstract

Four cases of pancreatic pseudocyst in African children are described. There is some evidence that they followed pancreatitis of unknown aetiology. None had a history of trauma. Three were treated by cystogastrostomy, and the fourth by excision of the cyst.

Pancreatic Pseudocysts in Children: 4 Cases*

“…Even adults in Uganda not infrequently suffer from pancreatitis which may proceed to pancreatic calcification and diabetes mellitus (Shaper, 1964). This explains the pancreatic calcification seen radiologically in one of the cases reported by Wilson Carswell et al (1975). Incidence of pancreatitis is less prevalent in India than Africa, both in adults and children.…”

“…Even adults in Uganda not infrequently suffer from pancreatitis which may proceed to pancreatic calci fication and diabetes mellitus (Shaper, 1964). This explains the pancreatic calcification seen radiologically in one of the cases reported by Wilson Carswell et al (1975). following Kwashiorkor have been described (Udekwu et al, 1965), the pancreatic changes in Kwashiorkor are usually in the direction of atrophy (Davis , 1948) and reduction in pancreatic enzymes (Thompson & Trowell, 1952).…”

“…Pancreatitis in African children have been described by Collins (1958), Owor (1972). Four cases of pancreatic pseudocysts have been reported by Wilson Carswell et al (1975) from Uganda but in none of these cases there was there any history of trauma. Even adults in Uganda not infrequently suffer from pancreatitis which may proceed to pancreatic calci fication and diabetes mellitus (Shaper, 1964).…”

Surgery for chronic pancreatitis in Zaria, Nigeria

“…There are few reports on surgery for complications of chronic pancreatitis in Africans. Chronic pseudocysts have been reported in a few children and adults [8][9][10][11]. In the Western World, a high percentage of pseudocysts in adults is the result of alcoholic pancreatitis while 60% of pediatric cases are due to blunt abdominal trauma and the others are of obscure etiology [12].…”