In a group of 52 partial duodenopancreatectomies (34 cancers of the head of the pancreas, 14 cancers of the papilla and 4 cancers of the common bile duct) the dependence of tumour volume and tumour localisation on carcinomatous lymph node involvement, infiltration of surrounding tissues, infiltration of great visceral vessels and not radical resection was determined. The analysis demonstrates that there is significant difference in volume between radically treated carcinomas of the common bile duct, the papilla of Vater and the head of the pancreas with mean volumes of 463:1,851:11,835 mm3 or 1:4:26! Furthermore the investigation shows that for every analysed parameter median volume is larger for positive observations than for negative ones: lymph node involvement 10,606:6,459 mm3, infiltration of surrounding tissues 10,444:6,703 mm3, infiltration of great visceral vessels 14,923:7,144 mm3, not radical resection 18,130:5,343 mm3. From these results it is concluded, that early stages of periampullary carcinomas with a good chance for cure are only present in radically treated cancers of the papilla and the common bile duct. In cancers of the head of the pancreas the significant larger primary cancers and the more advanced staging results in a dismal prognosis.