ObjectiveTo evaluate the imaging examination in the diagnosis of periampullary carcinoma. MethodsA retrospective analysis of 125 patients with pathologically proven periampullary carcinomas enrolled in Zhongshan hospital between Jan. 1991 and Dec. 2000. ResultsThe accuracy of BUS or CT was higher than that of ERCP in patients with pancreatic head carcinoma (P=0.044,P=0.029, respectively). The accuracy of ERCP was higher than that of BUS or CT in patients with duodenal papillary carcinoma (P=0.005,P=0.03, respectively). The accuracy of ERCP was higher than that of BUS or CT in patients with ampullary carcinoma (P=0.157,P=0.282, respectively). The accurary of MRCP was 8/8,8/9 respectively in patients with duodenal papillary carcinoma and ampullary carcinoma. ConclusionBUS+CT is the manner of choice in the diagnosis of pancreatic head carcinoma, ERCP is suitable for nonpancreatic periampullary cancer. MRCP should be applied widely in the near future.