10 cases of pancreatic ascites are presented. Ascitic fluid lipase is complementary to the determination of ascitic amylase in the diagnosis of pancreatic ascites and may be a more reliable diagnostic indicator of pancreatic ascites on a random ascitic fluid sample. Conservative management, consisting of abdominal paracentesis with or without diurectics, proved to be the treatment of choice in 3 of our patients who failed to reveal an associated pseudocyst.