Korean Journal of Medicine  2008;74(6):667-671

Mass-forming focal-type autoimmune pancreatitis difficult to differentiate from pancreatic cancer.

Jae Keun LEE 1 ; Myung Hwan KIM ; Jeung Hye HAN ; Tae Yoon LEE ; Sang Su LEE ; Dong Wan SEO ; Sung Koo LEE

Affiliations

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Keywords

Autoimmune pancreatitis; Mass forming; Focal type; Steroid

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

Korean

Abstract

Autoimmune chronic pancreatitis (AIP) typically manifests as diffuse pancreatic swelling and diffuse irregular narrowing of the main pancreatic duct. Recently, mass-forming focal-type AIP, which shows focal pancreatic swelling with mass and focal narrowing of the main pancreatic duct, has been reported. Since this type of AIP is difficult to differentiate from pancreatic cancer, the greater part of these cases have been treated surgically, with the diagnosis confirmed thereafter. Here we report a case of mass-forming focal-type AIP detected in the head of the pancreas; it has been successfully treated with steroids.