Objective To analyze the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic tuberculosis. Methods Retrospectively reviewed and summarized 13 pancreatic tuberculosis patients’ clinical information

presentation

diagnostic methods

therapeutic approaches

and prognosis from 1958 to 2004 at Peking Union Medical College Hospital. Results All cases presented a wide series of symptoms

including fever in 6 cases

upper abdominal tenderness in 13

epigastric mass in 4

obstructive jaundice in 3

night sweat in 4

weight loss in 7

hypersplenotrophy and hypersplenism in 1

and being complicated with tuberculosis of other organs in 3. One case was diagnosed by clinical symptoms and biopsy of lymph node

and only received anti-tubercular treatment. Others were diagnosed by intra-operative biopsy and anti-tubercular treatment

and got well without recurrent tuberculosis in pancreas and other organs during 6 months to 2 years of follow-up. The non-operative case presented extrahepatic portal hypertension. Conclusions Pancreatic tuberculosis may be considered in the patients with fever

abdominal tenderness

weight loss

and imaging evidence of regional pancreatic lesion. Efficacy of anti-tubercular agents and laparotomy for pancreatic tuberculosis is evident.