- (2014) Volume 15, Issue 5
Muhammad Ali Khan1, Sehrish Kamal1, Usman Ahmad2, Mohammed Andaleeb Chowdhury1 and Ali Nawras2*
1Internal Medicine and 2Gastroenterology, University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio, USA
Received August 27th, 2014 – Accepted September 5th, 2014
Context Autoimmune pancreatitis is classified into two distinct clinical profiles. Care report Type 1 autoimmunepancreatitis (AIP) is considered to be a manifestation of a novel clinicopathological entity called IgG4 related sclerosingdisease, diagnosed using the Mayo Clinic HISORt criteria. Extra-pancreatic manifestations can include involvement of bileducts, salivary gland, lung nodules, thyroiditis, tubulointerstitial nephritis, renal masses, and retroperitoneal fibrosis. Type2 autoimmune pancreatitis on the other hand is confirmed by histologically seen duct centric pancreatitis without elevationof IgG4 or involvement of other organs. In type 1 autoimmune pancreatitis, extrapancreatic manifestations like bile ductstrictures, tubulointerstitial nephritis, renal nodules, retroperitoneal fibrosis respond to steroid therapy. Conclusion Wepresent a case of type 1 autoimmune pancreatitis in which the renal mass did not respond to steroid therapy and was later on found to be renal cell carcinoma. To the best of our knowledge this is only the third reported case of autoimmune pancreatitis in which the patient had renal cell carcinoma. Our case highlights the importance of close follow up of lesions that do not respond to steroid treatment which in this case proved to be renal cell cancer.
Carcinoma, Renal Cell; Immunoglobulin G; Pancreatitis
Autoimmune pancreatitis is classified into two distinct clinical profiles. Type 1 autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) is one of the presentations of IgG4 related sclerosing disease diagnosed using the Mayo Clinic HISORt criteria [1]. Extrapancreatic manifestations can include involvement of bile ducts, salivary gland, lung nodules, thyroiditis, interstitial nephritis, renal masses, and retroperitoneal fibrosis [2, 3]. Type 2 autoimmune pancreatitis on the other hand is confirmed by histologically seen duct centric pancreatitis without elevation of IgG4 or involvement of other organs.
We report a case of a seventy three year old Caucasian male who presented with obstructive jaundice, pruritus, a four month history of oily diarrhea, weight loss, and uncontrolled diabetes mellitus. Physical examination was unremarkable except for scleral icterus.
Liver function tests demonstrated a total bilirubin 16.9 mg/ dL, AST 118 IU/L, ALT 213 IU/L, and alkaline phosphatase 438 IU/L.
Contrast enhanced computed tomography (CT) of abdomen showed an enlarged pancreas with a hypodense halo or capsule around it. There was mild biliary tree dilatation without any definite obstructing mass or gallstone. A contrast enhancing left renal mass measuring 30mm x 26mm was also noted.
Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) were performed. The Radial EUS disclosed prominent pancreatic head with diffuse hypoechogenicity of pancreatic parenchyma and small pancreatic duct measuring 1.3 mm with no discrete mass was identified. Distal common bile duct (CBD) stricture measuring 1.0 mm was noted within the head of the pancreas. ERCP re-identified the distal common bile duct stricture which measured 20mm in length. The stricture was brushed, biopsied and stented. EUS-FNA of the distal CBD stricture within the head of pancreas was negative for malignancy. Autoimmune pancreatitis was suspected for which IgG subclass analysis was ordered which revealed an elevated IgG4 of 388 mg/dL (reference range: 8-140 mg/dL) consistent with AIP.
The patient was started on Prednisone 40 mg/day which led to complete resolution of his symptoms within two weeks. The dose was decreased by 5mg every week until it reached a 10mg/day as a maintenance dose. Repeat ERCP two months later for stent removal revealed a patent common bile duct. A follow up contrast enhanced CT scan was performed 5 months later to re-evaluate the renal mass which was initially suspected to be an extrapancreatic manifestation of AIP. It revealed a normal sized pancreas, however, the contrast enhancing renal mass had increased in size to 34mm x 30mm (Figure 1 ab). The patient underwent partial nephrectomy and was found to have primary renal cell cancer.
Figure 1. a) Contrast enhanced axial CT of the abdomen shows enlarged pancreas with loss of normal fatty lobulation. There is a hypodense "halo" or capsule (white arrow) around the pancreas. b) Contrast enhanced axial CT of the abdomen showing a well circumscribed solid heterogonous renal mass measuring 30 X 26 mm in the mid pole of the left kidney. c) Contrast enhanced CT of the abdomen 5 months later showing resolution of pancreatitis and a normal appearing pancreas. d). Contrast enhanced CT scan 5 months later showing the enlarging renal mass 34 x 30 mm.
Autoimmune pancreatitis is the prototypical manifestation of IgG4 related disease and it forms two percent of chronic pancreatitis cases [4]. Most of the early literature regarding this entity comes from Japan where the prevalence of the disease is 0.82 per 100,000 persons, however recently it has been described in several other countries.
Renal mass is one of the extra-pancreatic manifestations of IgG4 related disease which could range from tubulointerstitial nephritis to nodular lesions and pseudotumors mimicking renal cell carcinoma [5]. On radiological evaluation using contrast enhanced CT scan; the most common renal abnormality in IgG4 related disease was multiple low density lesions [6]. However, mass like lesions simulating renal cell carcinoma have been recognized in 3-27% patients [6, 7]. In the past, a number of such patients with renal masses underwent nephrectomies [8], which later revealed a dense lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate with an increased number of IgG4 positive plasma cells on pathological examination. Histologically, such renal lesions are characterized by an irregular pattern of fibrosis called storiform fibrosis which is considered to be pathognomonic for renal manifestations in IgG4 related disease [9]. Lately, CT guided renal biopsies have been performed in such cases, thereby preventing nephrectomies [10]. Being a rare clinical disorder, no formal guidelines evaluating the role of renal biopsy in such cases have been formulated (Figure 1 cd).
Two case reports from Japanese literature demonstrated the occurrence of renal cell carcinoma in patients with AIP (Table 1). In the first case, renal cell carcinoma with metastases was found on autopsy, six years after the diagnosis of AIP [11]. In the second case, patient had a history of renal cell carcinoma ten years prior to the diagnosis of AIP [12]. We report a third case, in which renal cell carcinoma was diagnosed 5 months after the diagnosis of AIP. Although this may be an incidental finding, we do not know for sure whether there is a potential association between AIP and renal cell carcinoma which may be elucidated in future with more reported cases.
Our case emphasizes that not all renal masses in autoimmune pancreatitis are extra-pancreatic manifestation of the disease. It also illustrates the necessity for mandating further work up in the form of biopsy and/ or surgery to rule out more ominous etiologies, especially if the renal mass is not responding to steroid treatment.
Authors declare to have no conflict of interest.
