title: Autoimmune pancreatitis: unveiling a hidden entity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  After alcohol-induced and hereditary disease, idiopathic chronic pancreatitis is the most common cause of calcifying pancreatitis. This designation is used when no associated cause of chronic pancreatitis is found. We present 6 cases of idiopathic pancreatitis in which the postoperative pathological examination results demonstrated lymphoplasmacytic sclerosing pancreatitis or autoimmune pancreatitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective case series. The medical records of 6 patients referred and treated for autoimmune pancreatitis were reviewed. The duration of follow-up varies, the longest being 5 years. The disease and a literature review are reported.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 200-bed community hospital located in a large city. The patients were referred after being treated elsewhere for recurrent pancreatitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six patients with chronic recurrent pancreatitis were evaluated. They were selected because pathological review indicated that they all had autoimmune pancreatitis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six cases of lymphoplasmacytic sclerosing pancreatitis are presented and suggest that lymphoplasmacytic sclerosing pancreatitis should be thought of more often in chronic autoimmune pancreatitis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lymphoplasmacytic sclerosing pancreatitis is an increasingly recognized cause of chronic pancreatitis and should be considered in the evaluation of patients with chronic pancreatitis and no discernible cause.
authors.affiliation: The Center for Biliary and Pancreatic Surgery at Cabrini Medical Center, New York, NY 10003, USA. waynedocny@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wayne
authors.forename: Keith A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Delman
authors.forename: Tolga
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kurt
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Grossi
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sabatini
authors.forename: Avram
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cooperman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D012008:Recurrence