Re: Autoimmune pancreatitis: An illustrated guide to diagnosis

Abstract

Sir — We read with great interest the recent review article written by Proctor and colleagues. 1 Proctor R.D. Rofe C.J. Bryant T.J. et al. Autoimmune pancreatitis: an illustrated guide to diagnosis. Clin Radiol. 2013; 68: 422-432 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (21) Google Scholar The article clearly describes the key role of imaging in an important treatable cause of pancreatitis, which responds readily to steroid treatment. However, we would like to comment on the diagnostic criteria where the authors mention the importance of Asian Consensus Diagnostic Criteria and HISORt criteria from the Mayo Clinic for autoimmune pancreatitis. These criteria, although used previously, do not represent currently updated diagnostic criteria for diagnosing autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP). We would like to update the readers with the development of International Consensus Diagnostic Criteria (ICDC) for AIP. 2 Shimosegawa T. Chari S.T. Frulloni L. et al. International consensus diagnostic criteria for autoimmune pancreatitis: guidelines of the International Association of Pancreatology. Pancreas. 2011; 40: 352-358 Crossref PubMed Scopus (1056) Google Scholar The ICDC for AIP were developed after a review of all existing criteria by an international panel of experts during the 14th Congress of the International Association of Pancreatology. Autoimmune pancreatitis: An illustrated guide to diagnosisClinical RadiologyVol. 68Issue 4PreviewAutoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) remains one of the rarer forms of pancreatitis but has become increasingly well recognized and widely diagnosed as it is an important differential, particularly due to the dramatic response to appropriate therapy. It is now best considered as part of a multisystem disease and the notion of “IgG4-related systemic sclerosing disease” has become widely recognized as the number of extra-pancreatic associations of AIP grows. More recently AIP has been classified into two subtypes: lymphoplasmacytic sclerosing pancreatitis (LPSP) and idiopathic duct-centric pancreatitis (IDCP) with distinct geographical, age and sex distributions for the two subtypes, in addition to different pathological characteristics. Full-Text PDF