Publications in the English language literature concerning pancreatic surgery between 1 April 1991 and 31 March 1992 are reviewed. Many reports concern the appropriate application of minimally invasive techniques in pancreatic disease. This applies especially to the treatment of pseudocysts. In the area of acute pancreatitis, an important analysis suggests that the timing of passage of gallstones is not important in determining the severity of gallstone pancreatitis. The features of mucin-producing tumors of the pancreas and papillary cystic pancreatic tumors are well described. The use of serologic markers and of fine-needle aspiration cytology in the diagnosis of early pancreatic carcinoma is evaluated. Improving results with pancreatic transplantation are leading to wider application of this procedure.