Pancreatic pseudocysts - When and how should drainage be performed?

Single or multiple fluid collections giving the appearance of cysts on pancreatic imaging within or in the anatomic neighborhood of the pancreas are often seen during or after an episode of acute pancreatitis. The number of new cystic collections found currently with sensitive radiologic studies and elucidation of their natural histories have raised the question of which of these need treatment. Surgical management has been challenged by interventional radiologists and endoscopists. This raises the second question as to how drainage should be performed.