Carcinoma of the pancreas ranks among the tumors having the worst prognosis. Ninety-five percent of all tumors of the pancreas originate in its exocrine part. Present-day diagnostic options facilitate more rapid and exact diagnosis by more gentle methods, nevertheless, the median of survival upon diagnosis still remains less than six months. Therapeutic options remain the same as fifty years ago – basically, in question is palliative treatment. The Czech Republic ranks among the countries having the highest incidence of this tumor. Only a few risk factors have been identified as being assiciated with carcinoma of the pancreas, of which genetic predisposion is probably the most significant. Of the exogenic factors the only reliably determined is the smoking habit with a significant dose-effect relationship. Protective factors are very uncertain, perhaps adequate consumption of fruit and vegetables.

        Key words: carcinoma of the pancreas – incidence – mortality – risk factors.