【Abstract】Objective To explore the relation between the expression of telomerase and DNA ploidy with biliarypancreatic system cancer, so as to find a better way to diagnose and distinguish jaundice between malignance and benign disease.Methods Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) were performed before operation in patients with obstructive jaundice. The bile and pancreatice juice were collected before ERCP. Biopsy specimens from part of patients were obtained during ERCP. All cancer specimens were possessed once again during operation and were assessed by the activity of telomerase and DNA ploidy. Results ① Telomerase positive rate 〔87.50%(56/64)〕 of tissue specimens in malignant obstructive jaundice were higher than that in benign obstructive jaundice 〔3.33%(2/60)〕，P=0.000. ② Telomerase positive rate〔71.88%(46/64)〕of Bile and pancreatice juice in malignant obstructive jaundice were higher than that in benign obstructive jaundice 〔3.33%(2/60)〕， P=0.000, tissue specimens obtained by endoscopy with malignant obstructive jaundice had detectable telomerase activity, positive rate was 83.33%（20/24）. ③ The rate of DNA heteroploid with malignant obstructive jaundice was 62.50%（40/64）, that of diploid can be seen in all patients with benign obstructive jaundice, the difference was statistically significant (P=0.000). ④ The rate of telomerase positive and DNA heteroploid in high differentiation tumor were significantly lower than in middlelow differentiation tumor （P=0.028，P=0.001）.Conclusion Applying the duodenoscope we collected the bile and pancreatic fluid before operation and obtain biopsy specimens whose telomerase activity and DNA ploid were detected. This is simple, safe, quick method which can identify the malignant and benign obstructive jaundice.