Pancreatic pseudocyst as a cause of jaundice.

Three cases of jaundice caused by a pseudocyst in the head of the pancreas which compressed the distal common bile duct are presented. These were seen at the VA Hospital, Clarksburg, West Virginia, in a four-year period. The need for bypass drainage of the biliary tree in such cases is emphasized. Simple drainage of the pancreatic pseudocyst in our patients has not relieved the obstructive compression of the intrapancreatic portion of the common bile duct.