[Cystic neoplasm of the pancreas as a cause of intestinal obstruction].

Cystic neoplasms of the pancreas are unusual varieties of pancreatic tumors. We herein report a new case presenting with atypical features, such as mental and electrolytic disturbances secondary to upper intestinal obstruction. We reviewed the literature, and discuss the differential diagnosis, the histopathological characteristics of prognostic value, and the therapeutic strategy. We conclude that these tumors should be included in the differential diagnosis of the upper intestinal obstructions, and emphasize the need to remove the lesion in all cases because of the difficulties of predicting the benign or malignant behaviour of these tumors before and during the surgical procedure.