To improve the level of correct diagnosis and surgical treatment of pancreatic duct stone complicated with pancreatic cancer.

The clinical data of the 16 cases with pancreatic duct stone complicated with pancreatic cancer from January 1989 to January 2009 were analyzed retrospectively.

All of the tumors located in the pancreatic duct where the stone had taken place. Due to a lack of specific clinical manifestations, the preoperative diagnosis of this condition were difficult. In this series, the finaldiagnostic rate of pancreatic cancer before operation were 31.2%(5/16) by ultrasonography, 68.8%(11/16), by CT, 66.7%(4/6) by ERCP and 60%(3/5) by MRI/MRCP. All operations were successful. Postoperative follow-up were 3-78 months in 16 cases. The 1,3,5-year survival rates of cases were 62.5%(10/16), 18.8%(3/16) and 6.2%(1/16) respectively. Surgical excision and cell differentiation of pancreatic carcinoma were the important prognostic factors.

Patients with long-term recurrent pancreatic duct stone tend to have associated with pancreatic cancer. Combination of ultrasonography,CT and ERCP make for the improvement of final diagnosis rates. Radical resection is the only curative method for pancreatic duct stone complicated with pancreatic cancer.