Rupture of a Huge Pancreatic Pseudocyst in a Superobese Patient: A Condition Mimicking Pulmonary Embolism

Pancreatic pseudocysts are fluid-filled collections that can arise from acute or chronic pancreatitis and may lead to a range of complications, like rupture, infection, hemorrhage, etc. Morbid obesity may further complicate the diagnosis and management of such cases. The present report describes the case of a 26-year-old superobese female (BMI: 58 kg/m²) with a pancreatic pseudocyst that presented diagnostic challenges and mimicked pulmonary embolism when the pseudocyst had ruptured. The patient initially presented with persistent biliary colic due to gallstones. Despite undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy, she continued to experience symptoms, including nausea, bloating, and inability to tolerate food, and lab tests showed progressive elevation of serum bilirubin levels. A huge pancreatic pseudocyst was found to be obliterating the gastric cavity and compressing the common bile duct after the patient was subjected to further radiological imaging. While waiting to be transferred to a tertiary center with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), endoscopic stenting, and other facilities, she suddenly experienced severe symptoms, like shortness of breath, upper abdominal/chest pain, tachycardia (heart rate: 140 beats per min), dizziness, and low oxygen saturation. The likelihood of pulmonary embolism (PE) was very high in the differential diagnoses, but computer tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) ruled out PE. Based on imaging and clinical assessment, rupture of the pancreatic pseudocyst was diagnosed. The patient was subsequently managed in a tertiary hospital endoscopically. This case highlights the challenges of diagnosing and managing pancreatic pseudocysts in extremely obese patients. It also underscores the role of a multidisciplinary approach and vigilant clinical attention to prevent misdiagnosis and optimize outcomes.