A pseudocyst is a common complication of acute and chronic pancreatitis. Pseudocysts are not true cysts because the lining that comprises the cyst is not made up of true pancreatic cells, but rather the scar tissue formed by surrounding organs when pancreatic fluid leaks during acute injury.
In patients with cysts who do not have a history of acute or chronic pancreatitis, these are less likely to be pseudocysts and therefore require further clinical attention.