Aims of the study To evaluate the diagnosis, treatment and outcome of patients with pancreatic metastases. Patients and methods We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients with pancreatic metastasis managed in the Paris area between 1990 and 2000. Results The series analyzed included 22 patients, 10 men and 12 women, mean age 61 years (range: 35-76). The primary tumors were renal cell carcinoma (N = 10), colorectal cancer (N = 4), lung cancer (N = 4), breast cancer (N = 2), cutaneous melanoma (N = 1) and ileal carcinoid (N = 1). The mean interval between primary treatment and presentation was 73.5 months (range: 2-151). Diagnosis was established because of clinical symptoms (N = 15) or during surveillance (N = 7). Computed tomography (N = 19) and endoscopie ultrasound (EUS) (N= 18) mainly showed solitary and hypodense/or hypoechoic masses. Histological diagnosis was obtained before surgery by EUS guided fine needle aspiration(N =6), ultra sound guided biopsy (N = 3) or duodenoscopy (N = 3). Among 10 patients with primary renal cell carcinoma, 7 were treated by surgery. Median global survival was 33 months. Median survival was 61 months in the event of surgical treatment and 20 months in the other patients (ns). Mean survival depended on the type of primary tumor, 61 months for renal cell carcinoma and 33 for colorectal cancer (P = 0.06). Conclusions Most pancreatic metastases develop from renal cell carcinoma and can occur several years after nephrectomy. Histological diagnosis is often obtained before surgery. Surgical resection must be discussed as it can allow long term survival. Aims of the study To evaluate the diagnosis, treatment and outcome of patients with pancreatic metastases. Patients and methods We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients with pancreatic metastasis managed in the Paris area 1990 and 2000. Results The series analyzed included 22 patients, 10 men and 12 women, mean age 61 years (range: 35-76). The primary tumors were renal cell carcinoma (N = 10), colorectal cancer (N = 4), lung cancer = 2), cutaneous melanoma (N = 1) and ileal carcinoid (N = 1). The mean interval between primary treatment and presentation was 73.5 months (range: 2-151). Diagnosis was established because of clinical symptoms ) or or surveillance (N = 7). Computed tomography (N = 19) and endoscopie ultrasound (EUS) (N = 18) mainly showed solitary and hypodense / or hypoechoic masses. Histological diagnosis was obtained before surgery by EUS guided fine needle aspiration (N = 6), ultra sound guided biopsy (N = 3) or duodenos Median global survival was 33 months. Median survival was 61 months in the event of surgical treatment and 20 months in the other patients (ns). Copy (N = 3). All 10 patients with primary renal cell carcinoma, 7 were treated by surgery. . Mean survival depended on the type of primary tumor, 61 months for renal cell carcinoma and 33 for colorectal cancer (P = 0.06). Conclusions Most pancreatic metastases develop from renal cell carcinoma and can occur several years after nephrectomy. Histological diagnosis is often obtained before surgery. Surgical resection must be discussed as it can allow long term survival.