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Case Reports
. 2025 Apr 29;19(1):303-312.
doi: 10.1159/000544785. eCollection 2025 Jan-Dec.

Autoimmune Pancreatitis in Children: A Case Report

Barbara Hendlisz  1 , Amélie Dirckx  1 , Marie Cassart  2 , Phu Quoc Lê  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Autoimmune Pancreatitis in Children: A Case Report

Barbara Hendlisz et al. Case Rep Gastroenterol. .

Abstract

Introduction: Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) is a rare and distinct condition in children compared to adults. Despite being based on adult diagnostic criteria, several differences have been reported, making pediatric AIP a challenging diagnosis.

Case presentation: A 14-year-old adolescent presented to the emergency department with abdominal pain, vomiting, and jaundice. A combination of biological and radiological assessments led to the diagnosis of AIP. The patient experienced a swift and complete recovery without intensive treatment.

Conclusion: AIP in children is an intriguing diagnosis and should be considered when a child presents with abdominal pain, vomiting, and jaundice. The natural history and pathophysiology of the disease are still uncertain. Specific markers for the disease need to be established. Studies on larger sample sizes are necessary to address these questions and improve AIP diagnosis and management.

Keywords: Autoimmune pancreatitis; Children; Diagnosis; Treatment.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
a Axial US scans centered on the hepatic hilum showing the main bile duct dilatation (9 mm) (between calipers). b Axial US scan centered on the pancreatic head showing a hypoechogenic enlargement of the pancreatic head suggestive of a tumor (arrows).
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
T2- (a) and T1-enhanced (b) axial MRI scans on the pancreas confirming the main bile duct dilatation (a, arrow), the global non-tumoral enlargement of the pancreatic gland (a, arrow head) and the irregularity of the pancreatic duct (a, red arrow). The typical peripheral enhancement of the pancreas highly suggestive of an AIP (b, arrow head).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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