What could cause pain after mild acute pancreatitis?

Hello doctor,

I am a 49-year-old male and an alcoholic. I was recently hospitalized for mild acute pancreatitis. I was informed that I must quit alcohol or these attacks will continue. So now I am sober. I have to go back in four to six weeks to get another abdominal CT scan as a follow-up. I do not understand the wording on the CT scan imaging report written by the radiologist. It says, "Pancreas - Fat stranding adjacent to the pancreatic tail. In addition, there is some focal hypodensity in the pancreatic tail, which measures 0.59 inches in axial image 23. " In the impression section, it says, "The fat stranding adjacent to the pancreatic tail is most consistent with acute pancreatitis. A focal area of hypodensity in the pancreatic tail is concerning for necrosis of less than 5 percent of the pancreatic parenchyma. No drainable fluid collection. A follow-up CT or MR of the abdomen with and without intravenous contrast is recommended in one month to document resolution of the area of hypodensity and exclude an underlying cystic lesion or mass". Does this mean I have a growth on my pancreas already and it could be a cyst or something even more sinister? And it mentions "resolution of the area", does this mean the radiologist possibly expects this "lesion" to disappear? So, this lesion is expected to disappear. My doctor in the hospital was not very thorough in explaining any of this, so I seek a better understanding of what I have on my pancreas.

Please help.

Thank you.

Hello doctor,

Thank you for your reply.

I was told that I did not have a necrotic pancreas or necrosis of the pancreas. So, are you saying there was a small area of necrosis on my pancreas, according to the report? I thought necrosis was when the pancreas tissue dies, and that would be a very bad situation. My apologies, as I am not in the medical profession. Could you clarify that part for me?

Please help.

Thank you.