Idiopathic fibrosing pancreatitis presenting with obstructive jaundice in a child

Idiopathic fibrosing pancreatitis (IFP) is a rare cause of obstructive jaundice in children. The obstruction is caused by circumferential compression of the intrapancreatic portion of the common bile duct (CBD). Various forms of biliary decompression, including surgical sphincteroplasty, choledochoduodenostomy, and Roux-en-Y choledochojejunostomy are employed as a treatment. We report a 14-year-old boy with IFP who was successfully treated by a temporary drainage of compressed CBD with the help of a stent placed by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). The diagnosis of IFP was confirmed histologically after open surgery. The patient remains well after 3.5 years of follow-up with no evidence of pancreatic insufficiency. This report offers an additional case of IFP causing obstructive jaundice treated by temporary internal drainage of CBD, which is safer and less invasive than biliodigestive surgical decompression.