Engineering the provitamin A (beta-carotene) biosynthetic pathway into (carotenoid-free) rice endosperm.

INTRODUCTION: Pseudocyst formation commonly follows pancreatitis, but erosion into the spleen is rare and potentially life threatening. We report a case of an intrasplenic pancreatic pseudocyst treated laparoscopically with distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy.

METHODS: A 50 year old male with a history of chronic alcoholic pancreatitis, presented with abdominal pain for 3 months, worsening over the past several days. A CT scan showed a broad 9 cm subcapsular fluid collection suspicious for an intra-splenic pseudocyst. The patient underwent laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy.

RESULTS: There were no intraoperative complications and the patient was discharged on day 8. The final pathology revealed a benign cystic lesion measuring 9 x 6 x 3 cm that was not communicating with the pancreatic duct, and 2 smaller pseudocysts in the pancreatic body and tail. A previous scan did not reveal any abnormalities in the spleen, and showed the other pancreatic pseudocysts. At 8 month follow up the patients was symptom free, with no new pseudocysts.

CONCLUSIONS: Splenic parenchyma involvement is an unusual complication of pancreatic pseudocyst. The optimal treatment is controversial. Percutaneous drainage carries a high recurrence rate and risk of hemorrhage. Open surgery is effective, but associated with significant morbidity. Laparoscopy offers an effective method of treatment without the potential complication of a large abdominal incision.