Case of Pancreatic Tail Cancer Associated with Autoimmune Pancreatitis

Fumio Sakashita, Toshiyuki Tanahashi, Kazuya Yamaguchi, Shinji Osada, Yasuyuki Sugiyama and Yosuke Adachi

Department of Oncologic Surgery, Gifu University, Graduate School of Medicine

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.

Key words
autoimmune pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, distal pancreatectomy

Reprint requests
Fumio Sakashita Department of Oncologic Surgery, Gifu University, Graduate School of Medicine
1-1 Yanagido, Gifu, 501-1194 JAPAN

Accepted
June 22, 2005

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