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Updated: Aug 18, 2026

Staining Protocols for Human Pancreatic Islets
Published on: May 23, 2012
Histopathologic characteristics of autoimmune pancreatitis based on comparison with chronic pancreatitis
Koichi Suda1, Masaru Takase, Yuki Fukumura
1Department of Pathology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. ksuda@med.juntendo.ac.jp
Objectives:
To clarify the histopathologic characteristics of autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP), based on comparison with both chronic alcoholic pancreatitis (CAP) and chronic obstructive pancreatitis (COP).
Methods:
Three AIP patients, 17 CAP patients, and 19 COP patients were studied histopathologically.
Results:
There was a dense lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate, especially within and around the pancreatic ducts, and fibrosis associated with AIP, while there was fibrosis accompanied by mild inflammatory infiltration in both CAP and COP. Inter- and intralobular fibrosis admixed with acinar atrophy was observed in both AIP and COP, while interlobular fibrosis combined with a "cirrhosis-like" appearance was found in CAP. Obliterative phlebitis was found in AIP, while thrombosis of the splenic vein was exhibited in CAP.
Conclusion:
Autoimmune pancreatitis was histologically characterized by dense lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate combined with fibrosis, acinar atrophy, obliterative phlebitis, and ductal involvement.
Related Concept Videos
Chronic Pancreatitis I: Introduction
Pancreatitis is the inflammation of the pancreas, which occurs when the immune system becomes active and causes swelling, pain, and disruptions in organ function. Pancreatitis can manifest as either an acute or chronic condition.
Acute pancreatitis arises suddenly and lasts for a brief duration, while chronic pancreatitis is a long-term affliction...
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