Histopathologic characteristics of autoimmune pancreatitis based on comparison with chronic pancreatitis.
OBJECTIVE
To clarify the histopathologic characteristics of autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP), based on comparison with both chronic alcoholic pancreatitis (CAP) and chronic obstructive pancreatitis (COP).


METHODS
Three AIP patients, 17 CAP patients, and 19 COP patients were studied histopathologically.


RESULTS
There was a dense lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate, especially within and around the pancreatic ducts, and fibrosis associated with AIP, while there was fibrosis accompanied by mild inflammatory infiltration in both CAP and COP. Inter- and intralobular fibrosis admixed with acinar atrophy was observed in both AIP and COP, while interlobular fibrosis combined with a "cirrhosis-like" appearance was found in CAP. Obliterative phlebitis was found in AIP, while thrombosis of the splenic vein was exhibited in CAP.


CONCLUSIONS
Autoimmune pancreatitis was histologically characterized by dense lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate combined with fibrosis, acinar atrophy, obliterative phlebitis, and ductal involvement.
Suda
Koichi
K
Department of Pathology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. ksuda@med.juntendo.ac.jp
Takase
Masaru
M
Fukumura
Yuki
Y
Ogura
Kanako
K
Ueda
Akiko
A
Matsuda
Takaharu
T
Suzuki
Fujihiko
F
D000368:Aged; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D004487:Edema / Q000473:pathology; D005355:Fibrosis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D046790:Pancreas, Exocrine / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D010183:Pancreatic Ducts / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D019512:Pancreatitis, Alcoholic / Q000473:pathology*; D050500:Pancreatitis, Chronic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D010689:Phlebitis / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology