Objective To discover the clinical characteristics of carcinoma of the body and tail of the pancreas in elderly patients and improve the diagnostic accurate rate of carcinoma of the body and tail of the pancreas in early stage. Methods Clinical data of 26 elderly patients with carcinoma of the body and tall in the pancreas from June

1990 to June

1999 were retrospectively analysed. Results Symptoms and signs of carcinoma of the body and tail in the pancreas in the elderly patients were atypical. Typical clinical manifestations including abdominal pain and abdominal mass occured just in 25% of the elderly patients suffering from carcinoma of the body and tail of the pancreas. The misdiagnostic rate of carcinoma of the body and tail of the pancreas in the elderly patients was as high as 53.8% and the complications of carcinoma of the body and tailof the pancreas including obstructive jaundice

pancreatic diarrhea and alimentary tract obstrUction occured frequently(50%).Type B ultrasound wave examination

computed tomography(CT) or magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) were of singificance in diagosis of carcinoma of the body and tail of the pancreas. Resection of pancreatic mass was one of main ways in treating elderly patients wth carcinoma of the body and tail in the pancreas. Conclusion To increase the knowledge of carcinoma of the body and tail in the pancreas and early diagnose and treatment are key in decreasing mortality and improving prognosis of this disease.