Objective To investigate clinicopathologic features, pathogenesis, and diagnosis and treatment of hereditary pancreatitis (HP). Method The relevant literatures on HP research in recent years were searched and reviewed. Results The HP was similar to the pancreatitis caused by the cholelithiasis, excessive alcohol consumption, hyperlipidemia, etc. in the histomorphology, function, and clinical manifestations and it was difficult to be distinguished. However, HP was different from the other types of chronic pancreatitis due to its early onset, familial, and high risk of pancreatic cancer. The HP was mainly caused by the PRSS1 mutations, and its mutation types mainly included the R122H, N29I, A16V, K23R, etc., among which the R122H and N29I were the two most common types of mutations. There was no specific treatment for the HP. The principles of treatment of HP were similar to the pancreatitist caused by other etiologies, including the nutritional support, blood sugar control, analgesia, etc.. In addition to the medical treatment, the surgical intervention was also the important means for the treatment of HP, including the pancreatic partial resection, total pancreatectomy or total pancreatectomy combined with islet cell autografting. Conclusions HP is an autosomal dominant hereditary disease characterized by recurrent attacks of pancreatitis. Relevant gene tests could be performed for patient with highly suspected HP. It faces great challenges in treatment of HP. Pathogenesis of HP needs to be constantly explored and experimental study of multicenter and large sample needs to be further studied in order to determine its best treatment strategy.