AIM:To examine the regional variations in mortality ratesof pancreatic cancer in China.METHODS:Aggregated mortality data of pancreatic cancerwere extracted from the 1990-1992 national death of allcauses and its mortality survey in China.Age specific andstandardized mortality rates were calculated at both nationaland provincial levels with selected characteristics includingsex and residence status.RESULTS:Mortality of pancreatic cancer ranked the ninthand accounted for 1.38 percent of the total malignancydeaths.The crude and age standardized mortality rates ofpancreatic cancer in China in the period of 1990-1992 were1.48/100 000 and 1.30/100 000,respectively.Substantialregional variations in mortality rates across China wereobserved with adjusted mortality rates ranging from 0.43/100 000 to 3.70/100 000 with an extremal value of 8.7.Urban residents had significant higher pancreatic mortalitythan rural residents.CONCLUSION:The findings of this study show differentmortality rates of this disease and highlight the importanceof further investigation on factors,which might contributeto the observed epidemiological patterns. AIM: To examine the regional variations in mortality rates of pancreatic cancer in China. METHODS: Aggregated mortality data of pancreatic cancer were extracted from the 1990-1992 national death of all cancers and its mortality survey in China. Age specific and standardized mortality rates were calculated at both nationaland provincial levels with selected characteristics including sex and residence status .RESULTS: Mortality of pancreatic cancer ranked the ninthand accounted for 1.38 percent of the total malignancy deaths. The crude and age standardized mortality rates of pancreatic cancer in China in the period of 1990-1992 were 1.48 / 100 000 and 1.30 / 100 000 respectively.Substantialregional variations in mortality rates across China wereobserved with adjusted mortality rates ranging from 0.43 / 100 000 to 3.70 / 100 000 with an extremal value of 8.7 .Urban residents had significant higher pancreatic mortalitythan rural residents. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study show differentmortality rates of this disease and highlight the importance of further investigation on factors, which might contribute to the observed epidemiological patterns.