Autoimmune Pancreatitis: How to Recognize This Entity and Avoid Surgical Treatment

Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) is a rare disease with a presentation mimics that of pancreatic cancer. It is exquisitely responsive to steroids. Unnecessary operative intervention can be avoided with a correct and timely diagnosis of AIP. In contrast, because pancreatic cancer is relatively more common, there is a risk of misdiagnosing pancreatic cancer as AIP, which has grave clinical consequences. International consensus diagnostic criteria (ICDC) for diagnosing AIP have been established. These criteria are based on features of pancreatic imaging, serum immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) levels, other organ involvement, pancreatic histology, and response to steroid treatment. A careful diagnostic approach using the ICDC allows diagnosis of AIP and differentiating it from pancreatic cancer.