AIM To study the clinical and pathological features of hypoplasia of exocrine pancreas with myocardialnecrosis.METHODS One ease of hypoplasia of exocrine pancreas with myocardial necrosis was autopsied. Theclinical signs and pathological changes were analyzed.RESULTS A 15-month-old boy with hypoplasia of exocrine pancreas was reported. The main clinicalfeatures were steatorrhea and marked underdevelopment. He died of acute heart failure afterhospitalization. Autopsy showed that there were aplasia of exocrine portion and fatty metaplasia ofpancreas, the myocardium revealed focal necrosis and sear formation.CONCLUSION Atrophy of exocrine pancreas and myocardial necrosis exist at the same time, suggestingthat there may be some relationship between them. It was likely that the damaged pancreatic tissue releasedsome active materials that may harm the myocardium or decrease pancreatic juice that results in lack ofnutrient and myocardial necrosis.

Pancreatic pseudocysts are the most common cystic lesions of the pancreas and may complicate acute pancreatitis, chronic pancreatitis, or pancreatic trauma. While the majority of acute pseudocysts resolve spontaneously, few may require drainage. On the other hand, pancreatic cystic tumors, which usualy require extirpation, may disguise as pseudocysts. Hence, the distinction between the two entities is crucial for a successful outcome. We conducted this study to highlight the fundamental differences between pancreatic pseudocysts and cystic tumors so that relevant management plans can be devised. We reviewed the data of patients with pancreatic cystic lesions that underwent intervention between June 2007 and December 2010 in our hospital. We identified 9 patients (5 males and 4 females) with a median age of 40 years (range, 30-70 years). Five patients had pseudocysts, 2 had cystic tumors, and 2 had diseases of undetermined pathology. Pancreatic pseudocysts were treated by pseudocystogastrostomy in 2 cases and percutaneous drainage in 3 cases. One case recurred after percutaneous drainage and required pseudocystogastrostomy. The true pancreatic cysts were serous cystadenoma, which was treated by distal pancreatectomy, and mucinous cystadenocarcinoma, which was initialy treated by drainage, like a pseudocyst, and then by distal pancreatectomy when its true nature was revealed. We conclude that every effort should be exerted to distinguish between pancreatic pseudocysts and cystic tumors of the pancreas to avoid the serious misjudgement of draining rather than extirpating a pancreatic cystic tumor. Additionaly, percutaneous drainage of a pancreatic pseudocyst is a useful adjunct that may substitute for surgical drainage.