Case of Pancreatic Tail Cancer Associated with Autoimmune Pancreatitis

• Published in: Nippon Shokaki Geka Gakkai zasshi Vol. 39; no. 1; pp. 78 - 83
• Main Authors: Sakashita, Fumio, Tanahashi, Toshiyuki, Yamaguchi, Kazuya, Osada, Shinji, Sugiyama, Yasuyuki, Adachi, Yosuke
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: The Japanese Society of Gastroenterological Surgery 2006
• Subjects: autoimmune pancreatitis; distal pancreatectomy; pancreatic cancer
• ISSN: 0386-9768; 1348-9372
• DOI: 10.5833/jjgs.39.78

We report a case of pancreatic tail cancer associated with autoimmune pancreatitis. A 72-year-old male referred for detailed examination and radical therapy against suspected pancreatic tumor was found to have a high rheumatoid factor in blood tests and diffuse enlargement of the pancreas without extension of its main duct observed by computed tomography. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography showed diffuse irregular narrowing of the main pancreatic duct and stenosis of the intrapancreatic common bile duct. Under a diagnosis of autoimmune pancreatitis, we conducted medicinal therapy with steroids. After steroid therapy, enlargement of the pancreas head and body was reduced and constriction of the common bile duct and main pancreatic duct improved. The tumor in the tail of the pancreas was enhanced, however, and pathological examination showed moderately differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma, necessitating distal pancreatectomy. To our knowledge, few reports exist of pancreatic cancer associated with autoimmune pancreatitis.