Indications for surgery of the pancreas depend on two major factors: the tumor and the surgeon. Tumor stage and tumor spread are technical factors defining resectability. Hepatic and peritoneal metastases, complex vascular involvement, retroperitoneal infiltration and infiltration of adjacent organs are objective factors of irresectability. Technical skill, experience and aggressiveness of the surgeon are factors contributing to the resectability of the tumor. The individual surgeon alone has to take the decision to resect and to define the extent of possible resection in the light of his experience.