Objective To study the clinicopathological characteristics,diagnosis and treatment of patients with mucinous cystic neoplasms (MCNs) of the pancreas.Methods The clinical data of 42 patients with mucinous cystic neoplasms of pancreas were retrospectively analyzed.Chi-square test and independent sample t-test were used for statistical analysis.Results The mean age of the patients was 53.1 yeas (ranged from 29 to 78 y).There were 32 female (76.2％).The patients were divided into two groups according to symptoms (the symptomatic group and the asymptomatic group).There were significant differences in tumor size,tumor location,operation type,operation time and adhesions with the surrounding tissues between the 2 groups of patients.The patients were then divided into three groups according to pathological type.There were significant differences in age,tumor marker,tumor location,operation type,operation time,adhesions with the surrounding tissues,operative blood loss,and postoperative hospital stay among the 3 groups of patients.There was no tumour recurrence in the patients with cystadenoma.Patients with cystadenocarcinoma developed tumor recurrence at a mean of 16.4 months (range,0-50) and died of tumor recurrence even after radical surgery at a mean of 22.9 months (range,3-58).Conclusion MCNs were seen most commonly in middleaged women.The presence of symptoms was a sign of malignancy.Resection of the tumor in the early stage is the key in dealing with MCNs.