Abstract: Objective To study the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cystic tumor. Methods Clinical data about 56 patients with pancreatic cystic tumor (15 males, 41 females) admitted to our hospital from January 2008 to July 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. The male and female ratio was 1:2.73. Of these patients, 12 were diagnosed with serous cystic tumor, 22 with mucinous cystic tumor, 6 with mucinous cystic carcinoma, 3 with intraductal papillary mucinous tumor, 1 with intraductal papillary mucinous carcinoma, and 12 with solid pseudopapillary tumor. Results Of the 56 patients, 13 underwent pancreatoduodenectomy, 4 pancreatic tumor segment resection, 1 gastrojejunal and biliary enteric anastomosis due to tumor invasion of its adjacent organs and large vessels, 1 pancreatic uncinate tumor resection, partial duodenojejunal resection and anastomosis, 3 pancreatic body and tail tumor resection, 18 pancreatic body and tail resection, 8 laparoscopic pancreatic body and tail resection with spleen reserved, 2 laparoscopic pancreatic body and tail resection plus spleenectomy, and 6 laparoscopic pancreatic tumor resection. No death occurred during perioperative period. Abdominal cavity infection, gastric empting disturbance, pancreatic fistula and bile leakage occurred in 2, 3, 4 and 2 patients, respectively, which were cured after conservative treatment. Conclusion Ultrasound, CT and MRI are the main diagnostic means of pancreatic cystic tumor. Specific surgical procedure for pancreatic cystic tumor should be decided according to its site, histological type, relation with the main pancreatic duct and general condition of the patients．