Imaging Appearances of Autoimmune Pancreatitis

Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) is a rare disorder of presumed autoimmune etiology with specific pathologic features, and is an increasingly recognized clinical condition. AIP is characterized histologically by fibrosis with dense infiltration of T lymphocytes and IgG4positive plasma cells in the peripancreatic and interlobular area of the pancreas (1-4). Patients with AIP usually have serum markers of autoimmune disorders, such as increased IgG4 and antinuclear antibodies. Although clinical features and symptoms are nonspecific, association with many other autoimmune disorders have also been reported (5-10). Therefore AIP should be considered in differential diagnosis when a patient with another autoimmune condition presents with symptoms related to the pancreas and biliary tract.