title: Autoimmune pancreatitis mimicking pancreatic cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Autoimmune pancreatitis is a particular type of pancreatitis of presumed autoimmune etiology, it is an entity distinct from all others forms of chronic pancreatitis, characterized by clinical, histopathological, radiographic, serologic and therapeutic features. This benign disease resembles pancreatic carcinoma both clinically and radiographically.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 27-year-old man presented with obstructive jaundice and evocative image of pancreatic tumor. A pancreaticoduodenectomy (Whipple operation) was performed and pathological examination of the specimen diagnosed AIP. Patient responded well to a course of corticosteroids with resolution of clinical and biological disorders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Accurate and timely diagnosis of autoimmune pancreatitis is particularly important because steroid therapy is effective and pancreatic resection is not necessary.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Fattouma Bourguiba Hospital, Monastir 5000, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hammami
authors.forename: Faouzi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Noomen
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Toumi
authors.forename: Olfa
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Harzallah
authors.forename: Ammar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mahmoudi
authors.forename: Wassim
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kallel
authors.forename: Khadija
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zouari
authors.forename: Abdelaziz
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hamdi