Autoimmune pancreatitis in Children: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Abstract

Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) is a rare entity that is extremely uncommon in children. We report a case of AIP in an 8-year-old boy of Afro-Caribbean origin who presented with severe obstructive jaundice and hepatomegaly. Abdominal ultrasound and Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography showed a diffuse enlarged pancreas causing compression of the common bile duct with severe dilation of the gallbladder and intra- and extrahepatic bile ducts. Laboratory results revealed positive antinuclear autoimmune antibodies and normal serum IgG4. Based on the clinical findings and imaging the diagnosis of autoimmune pancreatitis was made, which showed excellent response to corticosteroid therapy.