**7. Conclusions**

Autoimmune pancreatitis is an increasingly recognized, relatively new disease, identified definitively only in 1995. Two types of the AIP are described, type 1 or lymphoplasmacytic sclerosing pancreatitis (LPSP) and type 2 or idiopathic ductcentric pancreatitis. While type 1 is part of an IgG4-related systemic disease, type 2 is limited to the pancreas and can be associated only with inflammatory bowel disease. The diagnosis is not easy; detection of morphological alterations is the clue in recognizing AIP and distinguishing it from other pancreatic diseases. Once the diagnosis is made, the clinical classification of types 1 and 2 also can be difficult. For this reason, an indeterminate category Not Otherwise Specified (NOS) is useful in the everyday clinical practice. All types of AIP respond rapidly and completely to steroid treatment. The late prognosis is good, but residual morphological and functional pancreatic changes can be present. Progression to advanced CP probably can be prevented with adequate treatment. These characteristics make AIP a unique pancreatic disease: its correct diagnosis avoids unnecessary surgery, and it is the only pancreatic disease when we have the possibility to achieve a complete recovery with noninvasive medical treatment. It is particular also among the autoimmune diseases: an excellent

response to low-dose steroids and in relatively short time, with a real possibility to stop the treatment and a relatively low risk of recurrence or progression.
