To determine trends in the prevalence and identify the main risk factors associated with the development of pancreatic cancer. Study of trends in incidence and case-control population consisted of a total of 134 patients. Patients were grouped into: a) Cases: 67 patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer treated at the Abdomen's Service of the Specialized Surgery Department of the Regional Institute of Neoplastic Diseases "Dr. Luis Pinillos Ganoza "- IREN North during the period 2008 to 2011; and b) Controls: 67 patients diagnosed with gallstones and / or benign biliary disease treated at Belen Hospital in Trujillo during the period 2008 to 2011. The trend curve of incidence of pancreatic cancer showed a curve almost constant throughout the quadrennium 2008 to 2011, with incidence rates of 5.38%, 5.08%, 5.5% and 5.0% respectively. The overall incidence was 5.37%. The trend function was Y = (1756) ± (0.001) (x), with an R2 = 0.318 (p = 0.436). The main risk factors associated with pancreatic cancer were age bigger and equal to 60 years (p = 0.0001), male sex (p = 0.007), diabetes mellitus (p = 0.002) and family history of malignancy (p = 0.016). The trend in incidence in pancreatic cancer was low and constant in its appearance was significantly influenced by age, gender, and presence of diabetes mellitus and family history of cancer.