| ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical manifestation, diagnostic methods, the therapy of autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) and analyze the follow-up data for the purpose of improving the level of recognition and diagnosis.Materials and MethodsThe data of 12 cases of autoimmune pancreatitis which were hospitalized during Jan,2009 and Dec,2010 were analyzed retrospectively.ResultsThe main clinical manifestation of the investigated patients are jaundice, abdominal pain and weight loss which occurred in 50 percent of cases and no symptoms in 3 cases. The radiographic features are diffuse (n= 6) or localized (n=5) enlargement of the pancreas, narrowing of the main pancreatic duct with irregular wall and intrapancreatic common bile duct with dilation of proximal bile duct. Massive lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate with interstitial fibrosis can be observed under histopathological examination. The diagnosis of autoimmune pancreatitis could be made relying on the features of clinic, radiograph and histopathology. Among the cases we surveyed,9 out of 12 early-diagnoses are relating to malignant pancreatobiliary diseases. There are 5 patients treated with surgical operation and 9 with steroids. During about 6 to 18 months of follow-up care provided for all patients, one died of autoimmune pancreatitis complicated by pancreatic cancer.ConclusionAutoimmune pancreatitis is a special type of chronic pancreatitis associated with autoimmune diseases which can be treated with steroid effectively. Holding clinical features similar to the carcinoma of pancreas, AIP could be easily misdiagnosed, that means unnecessary surgical operations. Compared to pancreatic cancer, AIP has its unique feature in both therapy and prognosis. Thus, differential diagnosis and long-term following up should be highlighted.
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