Pseudocysts of the pancreas in children: an African series.

Ten children ranging in age from 15 months to 16 years were operated on for pancreatic pseudocysts in Zaria. Four of the cysts were traumatic in origin but the cause of the others was obscure: perhaps some of the patients had juvenile tropical pancreatitis syndrome (JTPS). Since these were all chronic pseudocysts with thick walls, internal drainage was performed in eight and resection in one; the inadvertent opening into an anterior pseudocyst was converted into an external drainage porta. In the absence of modern abdominal imaging facilities, it is possible that pancreatic pseudocysts are under-reported in most parts of Africa.