Of those three characteristic findings (multifocal involvement, bile duct thickening, mild proximal dilatation), two or more findings were observed in 14 of 16

patients. Upon direct cholangiogram, however, bile duct separation, suggesting hilar CCC, or beaded or pruned-tree appearance or diverticulum-like buy Target Selective Inhibitor Library outpouching, typical of PSC, was not noted in any patients. The mean serum IgG and IgG4 levels were 2470.9 mg/dL (range: 1441–6280) and 386.4 mg/dL (range: 26–1630), respectively. The serum IgG (>1800 mg/dL) and IgG4 (>135 mg/dL) levels were elevated in 10 patients (62.5%) and 12 patients (75%), respectively. Auto-antibodies were positive in four patients (25%); antinuclear antibodies were positive in two patients, and rheumatoid factor was positive

in two patients. The mean carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9) was 318.5 IU/mL (range: 2–2917), and CA 19-9 elevation greater than >100 IU/mL was noted in five patients (31.3%). In 25 patients with hilar CCC, the mean serum IgG and IgG4 levels were 1273.5 mg/dL (range: 780–1740) and 40.5 mg/dL (range: 1–134), respectively. Neither the serum IgG nor IgG4 level was elevated in any of the disease controls with CCC. The mean CA 19-9 was 253.2 IU/mL (range: 2–2000), and CA19-9 elevation greater than 100 IU/mL was noted in 10 patients (40%). Four patients had a past history of autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP). Concurrent pancreatic lesions were diagnosed as AIP in six patients, based on the combination of the clinical, radiological, and histological appearances selleck chemicals and steroid responsiveness. Of those 10 patients, one patient (case 1), who had a previous history of AIP, presented with concurrent ISC and AIP at this time. The disease interval gap between AIP and ISC was 1–8 years. Five patients with a previous history of AIP (cases 1, 2, 7, 8, and 12) had an isolated distal CBD narrowing at that time. Six patients (cases 3, 6, 9, 10, 14, and 15) had ISC without

evidence of AIP clinically or radiographically. Diffuse swelling of the pancreas upon CT scanning was observed in six patients (cases 1, 4, 5, 11, 13, and 16). Unexplained chronic 上海皓元 pancreatitis, with irregular dilatation of the main pancreatic duct, was observed in one patient. Extrabiliary involvement of organs other than the pancreas, suggesting IgG4-related systemic disease, was observed upon imaging and confirmed by the presence of IgG4-positive cell infiltration on biopsy specimens whenever biopsy specimens were readily obtainable in seven patients: sialadenitis (n = 2), inflammatory pseudotumor in liver parenchyma (n = 4), renal mass or tubulointerstitial nephritis (n = 3), retroperitoneal fibrosis (n = 1), and prostate mass (n = 1). A full spectrum of lymphoplasmacytic sclerosing pancreatitis (LPSP)-like histology, including periductal lymphoplasmacytic infiltration, storiform fibrosis, and obliterative phlebitis, was not observed in any of the 13 endobiliary biopsy specimens (Fig.