Objective: To investigate the clinical efficacy of middle pancreatectomy (MP) for benign or low-grade malignant tumors of the pancreatic neck and body. Methods: The clinical data of 32 patients undergoing MP for benign or low-grade malignant tumor of the pancreatic neck body (MP group) from August 2005 to February 2013 were retrospectively analyzed, and were also compared with the data of 30 patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD group) and 36 patients undergoing distal pancreatectomy (DP group) for benign or low-grade malignant pancreatic tumor during the same time period. Results: In MP, PD and DP group, the average operative time was (180.8±56.4), (279.6±79.2) and (190.4±62.3) min, average intraoperative blood loss was (196.5±185.7), (482.6±288.5) and (320.7±240.3) mL, time to bowel function recovery was (3.6±1.6), (5.2±2.3) and (4.1±1.9) d, number of newly developed diabetetic cases was 1, 5 and 9, and number of cases with postoperative pancreatic enzyme requirement was 0, 8 and 5, respectively. The differences in all above parameters among the three groups had statistical significance (all P<0.05). The incidence of postoperative pancreatic fistula in MP, PD and DP group was 18.8%, 12.5% and 25.0% respectively, which along with other perioperative variables among the three groups showed no statistical difference (all P>0.05). During the average follow-up period of 38 months, no tumor recurrence was noted in any of the groups. Conclusion: MP is a proper procedure for benign or low-grade malignant tumors in the neck and body of the pancreas, which allows better preservation of both exocrine and endocrine functions of the pancreas.