Background/Aims: Recent data demonstrate the presence of two autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) subtypes. All existing endoscopic ultrasonography-guided trucut biopsy (EUS-TCB) data pertain to type 1 disease. Our aim is to determine if EUS-TCB samples are sufficient for diagnosing type 2 AIP. Methods: This is a retrospective case series conducted in an academic tertiary care center. Patients included those with type 2 AIP (n = 5), retrospectively identified from a database of all patients with AIP, diagnosed by HISORt criteria (n = 125). The primary outcome measure was the diagnostic capability of EUS-TCB for type 2 AIP. Results: 5 patients (4 male, 1 female; mean age 39.6 years) who underwent EUS-TCB were diagnosed with type 2 AIP. The serum IgG4 level was elevated in 1 of the 4 patients tested. CT/MRI revealed diffuse pancreas enlargement (n = 3), a pancreas head mass (n = 1), and a normal pancreas (n = 1). Prior to EUS, AIP was not specifically suspected, but part of a broad differential (n = 3) or not suspected at all (n = 2). Fine-needle aspiration was negative for neoplasia and AIP. The TCB histology was definitive (n = 4) or suggestive (n = 1) for type 2 AIP. No complications developed. Conclusions: EUS-TCB may be safe and may provide sufficient material to definitively diagnose type 2 AIP.

1.
Sarles H, Sarles JC, Muratore R, Guien C: Chronic inflammatory sclerosis of the pancreas – an autonomous pancreatic disease? Am J Dig Dis 1961;6:688–698.
2.
Yoshida K, Toki F, Takeuchi T, Watanabe S, Shiratori K, Hayashi N: Chronic pancreatitis caused by an autoimmune abnormality: proposal of the concept of autoimmune pancreatitis. Dig Dis Sci 1995;40:1561–1568.
3.
Ito T, Nakano I, Koyanagi S, Miyahara T, Migita Y, Ogoshi K, Sakai H, Matsunaga S, Yasuda O, Sumii T, Nawata H: Autoimmune pancreatitis as a new clinical entity: three cases of autoimmune pancreatitis with effective steroid therapy. Dig Dis Sci 1997;42:1458–1468.
4.
Okazaki K, Chiba T: Autoimmune-related pancreatitis. Gut 2002;51:1–4.
5.
Ryu JK, Chung JB, Park SW, et al: Review of 67 patients with autoimmune pancreatitis in Korea: a multicenter nationwide study. Pancreas 2008;37:377–385.
6.
Okazaki K, Kawa S, Kamisawa T, et al: Clinical diagnostic criteria of autoimmune pancreatitis: revised proposal. J Gastroenterol 2006;41:626–631.
7.
Chari ST, Smyrk TC, Levy MJ, Topazian MD, Takahashi N, Zhang L, Clain JE, Pearson RK, Petersen BT, Vege SS, Farnell MB: Diagnosis of autoimmune pancreatitis: the Mayo Clinic experience. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2006;4:1010–1016;quiz 1934.
8.
Pearson RK, Longnecker DS, Chari ST, Smyrk TC, Okazaki K, Frulloni L, Cavallini G: Controversies in clinical pancreatology: autoimmune pancreatitis – does it exist? Pancreas 2003;27:1–13.
9.
Japan Pancreas Society: Diagnostic criteria for autoimmune pancreatitis. J Jpn Pancreas Soc 2002;17:585–587.
10.
Ghazale A, Chari ST, Smyrk TC, Levy MJ, Topazian MD, Takahashi N, Clain JE, Pearson RK, Pelaez-Luna M, Petersen BT, Vege SS, Farnell MB: Value of serum IgG4 in the diagnosis of autoimmune pancreatitis and in distinguishing it from pancreatic cancer. Am J Gastroenterol 2007;102:1646–1653.
11.
Notohara K, Burgart LJ, Yadav D, Chari S, Smyrk TC: Idiopathic chronic pancreatitis with periductal lymphoplasmacytic infiltration: clinicopathologic features of 35 cases. Am J Surg Pathol 2003;27:1119–1127.
12.
Takahashi N, Kawashima A, Fletcher JG, Chari ST: Renal involvement in patients with autoimmune pancreatitis: CT and MR imaging findings. Radiology 2007;242:791–801.
13.
Zhang L, Notohara K, Levy MJ, Chari ST, Smyrk TC: IgG4-positive plasma cell infiltration in the diagnosis of autoimmune pancreatitis. Mod Pathol 2007;20:23–28.
14.
Ghazale A, Chari ST: Optimising corticosteroid treatment for autoimmune pancreatitis. Gut 2007;56:1650–1652.
15.
Chari ST, Takahashi N, Levy MJ, Smyrk TC, Clain JE, Pearson RK, Petersen BT, Topazian MA, Vege SS: A diagnostic strategy to distinguish autoimmune pancreatitis from pancreatic cancer. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2009;7:1097–1103.
16.
Zamboni G, Luttges J, Capelli P, Frulloni L, Cavallini G, Pederzoli P, Leins A, Longnecker D, Kloppel G: Histopathological features of diagnostic and clinical relevance in autoimmune pancreatitis: a study on 53 resection specimens and 9 biopsy specimens. Virchows Arch 2004;445:552–563.
17.
Park DH, Kim MH, Chari ST: Recent advances in autoimmune pancreatitis. Gut 2009;58:1680–1689.
18.
Chari ST, Murray JA: Autoimmune pancreatitis. 2. The relapse. Gastroenterology 2008;134:625–628.
19.
Ectors N, Maillet B, Aerts R, Geboes K, Donner A, Borchard F, Lankisch P, Stolte M, Luttges J, Kremer B, Kloppel G: Non-alcoholic duct destructive chronic pancreatitis. Gut 1997;41:263–268.
20.
Kloppel G: Chronic pancreatitis, pseudotumors and other tumor-like lesions. Mod Pathol 2007;20(suppl 1):S113–S131.
21.
Detlefsen S, Mohr Drewes A, Vyberg M, Kloppel G: Diagnosis of autoimmune pancreatitis by core needle biopsy: application of six microscopic criteria. Virchows Arch 2009;454:531–539.
22.
Levy MJ, Reddy RP, Wiersema MJ, Smyrk TC, Clain JE, Harewood GC, Pearson RK, Rajan E, Topazian MD, Yusuf TE, Chari ST, Petersen BT: EUS-guided trucut biopsy in establishing autoimmune pancreatitis as the cause of obstructive jaundice. Gastrointest Endosc 2005;61:467–472.
23.
Kloppel G, Luttges J, Lohr M, Zamboni G, Longnecker D: Autoimmune pancreatitis: pathological, clinical, and immunological features. Pancreas 2003;27:14–19.
24.
Kawaguchi K, Koike M, Tsuruta K, Okamoto A, Tabata I, Fujita N: Lymphoplasmacytic sclerosing pancreatitis with cholangitis: a variant of primary sclerosing cholangitis extensively involving pancreas. Hum Pathol 1991;22:387–395.
25.
Yadav D, Notahara K, Smyrk TC, Clain JE, Pearson RK, Farnell MB, Chari ST: Idiopathic tumefactive chronic pancreatitis: clinical profile, histology, and natural history after resection. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2003;1:129–135.
26.
Suda K, Takase M, Fukumura Y, Ogura K, Ueda A, Matsuda T, Suzuki F: Histopathologic characteristics of autoimmune pancreatitis based on comparison with chronic pancreatitis. Pancreas 2005;30:355–358.
27.
Deshpande V, Mino-Kenudson M, Brugge WR, Pitman MB, Fernandez-del Castillo C, Warshaw AL, Lauwers GY: Endoscopic ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration biopsy of autoimmune pancreatitis: diagnostic criteria and pitfalls. Am J Surg Pathol 2005;29:1464–1471.
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.