[Eosinophilic pancreatitis and autoimmune pancreatitis: comparison, differential diagnosis, and treatment]

Abstract

Among the rarest causes of acute pancreatitis, there are eosinophilic pancreatitis (EP) and autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP). They share some features, such as the low frequency and the association with systemic disorders. Their diagnostic criteria, mainly clinical and laboratory, are different, but both require histological confirmation in most cases: in fact, pancreas is enlarged at CT scan, with tumor-like appearance. Here we discuss the importance of hypereosinophilia in EP and IgG increase in type 1 AIP (included in IgG-related systemic diseases). Differential diagnosis with pancreatic neoplasms and therapy schedules are discussed as well.

Keywords

• Acute pancreatitis
• Eosinophilic pancreatitis
• Autoimmune pancreatitis
• IgG4-related disease