The Role of Endoscopic Ultrasound in the Diagnosis of Autoimmune Pancreatitis

Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) is increasingly being recognized due to improved understanding of the disease and its criteria for diagnosis. The classic type 1 AIP can be diagnosed on clinical data, but type 2 AIP requires histologic confirmation. Current criteria incorporate cross-sectional imaging and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in the diagnosis of AIP. However, endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) will likely have an increasing role in the diagnosis through its characteristic imaging, image-enhancing techniques, and its ability to acquire tissue through either fine needle aspiration or biopsy. This article will review the diagnostic challenges of AIP and the current role of EUS.