AIP histology was defined by the presence of lymphoplasmacytic infiltration, periductal inflammation, fibrosis, and periphlebitis. Imaging, clinical, and biochemical data were analyzed. Results:  Thirty patients had pancreatic resection with pathological confirmation of AIP. Imaging revealed pancreatic mass (45%), focal prominence without mass AUY-922 mw lesion (24%), diffuse enlargement (17%),

and normal pancreas (14%). Twenty-four patients underwent an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and/or magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, and 4/24 (17%) had pancreatic ductal narrowing or irregularity. Extrapancreaticobiliary organ involvement was found in 6% (n = 2) of patients. Biliary strictures were present in 87% of patients. Of 16 patients who underwent preoperative tissue biopsy, 10 had non-diagnostic pathology, five had cellular atypia, and one had AIP. Serum immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) levels were elevated in 12 of 29 (41%) patients. Three (10%) patients had evidence of extrapancreatic manifestations of AIP. When BMS-777607 in vitro applying

the Japanese criteria to the 27 patients who had serum IgG4 measurement, preoperative biopsy, and cross-sectional abdominal imaging, only 44% of the patients would have been diagnosed accurately. Conclusions:  When applied to a highly-selected single-center referral population in the USA, current Japanese guidelines for the diagnosis of AIP are found to have O-methylated flavonoid suboptimal sensitivity. “
“Hepatocellular carcinoma is the third most frequent cause of death from cancer

worldwide. This cancer is most common in geographic regions with a high prevalence of chronic hepatitis B virus infection – particularly in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. However, due to increased incidence of chronic hepatitis C virus infection between 1945 and 1990, the incidence rates of hepatocellular carcinoma have been increasing in Europe and North America since the 1970s. Substantial advances have been made in therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma, notably the recognition that in patients with early stage disease liver transplantation can achieve a 5-year survival of over 70%. These results, along with advances in surgical resection, local ablation, and locoregional therapies, have led to an increased emphasis on surveillance of individuals at risk for hepatocellular carcinoma, to allow for early diagnosis and more effective treatment of as many patients as possible. For patients with advanced, unresectable disease, the recent FDA approval of the multikinase inhibitor sorafenib, which has been shown to moderately extend patient survival, is a positive harbinger for future advances in therapy.