Objective To investigate the diagnosis and treatment of tumor of the head of pancreas(THP). Methods The clinical data of 277 cases of THP were restrospectively reviewed. All patients were diagnosed by US,CT, gastroenteric barium meal and /or operation. A comparison was made in 80 cases , who underwent pancreatoduodenectomy were divided into group A(41 patients operated during1982-1995) and group B(39 patients operated after January,1996) . Results 194 patients underwent surgical treatment,including explore laparotomy in 28,bilioenterostomy or T tube drainage in 86,pancreatoduodenectomy(PTD) in 80.Among 80 cases treated with PTD, the operation time,blood loss volume and blood transfusion volume during operation, and serious postoperative complication occurring rate in group A were significantly higher than those in group B(all P 0.05 ).The follow up results were as follows:the average survival time was (4.07 ?1.80) months in patients with bile external drainage, and (8.28 ?2.31) months in hepatojejunostomy,(P