Autoimmune pancreatitis is a sclerosing disorder characterized by autoimmune serology and multiple organ involvements, considered a disease of the western world, but now its incidence in India is rising because of increased awareness and development of clinicoradiological criteria to diagnose it. Case summary: A 60-years-old lady presented with pain abdomen, loss of weight, yellowish discolouration of skin and eyes. Her biochemical investigations revealed deranged liver function tests and

more »

... erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Subsequent imaging showed bulky pancreatic head and an ill-defined hypodense mass lesion in it causing bi-lobar intrahepatic biliary dilatation. Based on the pre-operative diagnosis of carcinoma head of pancreas she underwent Whipple's procedure. To our surprise, histopathological examination confirmed this as autoimmune pancreatitis. Conclusion: Inflammatory pseudotumors have frequently been mistaken as pancreatic tumours and resected surgically. Since autoimmune pancreatitis responds dramatically to steroid therapy, accurate diagnosis can avoid major surgical undertakings like pancreatic resection.