Abstract

Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) is a peculiar type of chronic pancreatitis that responds rather dramatically to corticosteroid therapy. The most important point when diagnosing AIP is to distinguish it from pancreatobiliary malignancies. The typical imaging features of AIP are diffuse enlargement of the pancreas and a diffusely attenuated main pancreatic duct with an irregular wall. The atypical imaging features of AIP include a discrete pancreatic mass, focal pancreatic enlargement and focal narrowing of the main pancreatic duct. EUS and a histopathologic examination should be performed for patients with these atypical imaging features. Endobiliary biopsy and brush cytology are recommended at the time of ERCP in the case of obstructive jaundice associated with bile duct narrowing. This review discusses the role of endoscopic examination for making the diagnosis of autoimmune pancreatitis.(Korean J Gastrointest Endosc 2008;37: 237-242)

• Keywords: Autoimmune pancreatitis, Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic ultrasonography