Objective: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of laparoscopic spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy (LSPDP) in treatment of benign and borderline tumors of the pancreas.  
Methods: The clinical data of 21 patients with benign or borderline tumors in the tail or body of the pancreas treated from August 2014 to August 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. Of the patients, 12 patients underwent LSPDP, and 9 patients underwent laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy (LDPS). The main clinical variables were compared between the two groups of patients.  
Results: There were no significant differences in operative time, intraoperative blood loss, length of hospital stay and intraoperative blood transfusion rates between the groups (all P>0.05). There were no significant differences in number of white blood cells and the percentage of neutrophils on postoperative day (POD) 1 and 7, as well as the ascitic fluid amylase concentration on POD 1 and 3 between the two groups (all P>0.05), but the platelet levels in 2 weeks and 3 months after operation were significantly higher in LDPS group than those in LSPDP group (both P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of postoperative complications between the two groups (P>0.05). 
Conclusion: Both LDPS and LSPDP can be used for benign and borderline tumors in the tail or body of the pancreas. LSPDP has certain superiority to LDPS in platelet stabilization.