Over an 18-month period, the authors studied 305 cases of patients with or suspected of having pancreatic disease. Although atraumatic and free of danger, it must be borne in mind that echotomography is hampered by the air and water barrier of the hollow organs of the intestines since 20% of subjects cannot be explored. Well defined full or empty pancreatic tumours and acute inflammatory syndromes have well defined echographic appearances. In cases of chronic pancreatitis or poorly defined tumours the diagnosis is more difficult and ultrasound examination often only provides an additional element in a clinical argument. The great reliability of this examination should lead to its use at the beginning of investigations, with the possibility of the result orienting the clinician towards less harmless examinations.