Abstract： Objective To investigate the value of spiral computed tomography (CT) combined with CA19-9 in predicting the resectability of patients with pancreatic carcinoma. Method Preoperative clinical features and serum CA19-9 levels of 52 patients with pancreatic cancer between February 2002 and February 2006 were reviewed. Preoperatively respectability was evaluated retrospectively from a complete history and CT imaging. Patients were divided as resectable group (A), unresectable with invasion into large vessels group(B), unresectable with metastasis group ( C ). Results For prediction of unresectabiliy, spiral CT had accuracy of 100% ,and for prediction of resectability , the accuracy was 73.30%. The level of serum CA19-9 increased along with advancing of tumor, and serum CA19-9 between group A and group C was significanlly different ( P<0.05 ), but no differences between group B and group A, group B and group C (P>0.05). If using CA19-9 level of 150 U/ml as a threshold to determine unresectability, among 41 patients of group B and C,only 10 (24.39%) patients had CA19-9 level higher than 150 U/ml. On the other hand,patients of group A had serum CA19-9 level lower than 150 U/ml. Conclusion The level of serum CA19-9 increases along with advancing of tumor, but the level of serum CA19-9 can not reflect tumor local invasion. Application of spiral CT combined with CA19-9 in predicting resectability for the pancreatic carcinoma is limited.