ObjectiveTo summary the detection methods of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in pancreatic cancer patients and its clinical application. MethodsRelated domestic and foreign literatures were reviewed. ResultsPancreatic cancer is one of the common malignant tumors in the world. The early diagnosis rate is low, the incidence of local invasion and metastasis is high, and the prognosis is very poor. The CTCs is one of the important causes of postoperative recurrence and metastasis, its detection methods based on immunocytochemistry (ICC) and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). ConclusionsDetection of CTCs, regarding as a "real-time liquid biopsy", it has a high application value in the early diagnosis, treatment, prognosis and effect evaluation of pancreatic cancer, and it has become research frontier and focus.