Benign stenosis of the sphincter of Oddi is a rare cause of obstructive jaundice in the absence of other abnormalities in the biliary tract. Surgery is required for its recognition and correction. Stenosis of the sphincter of Oddi is more frequently present in association with biliary tract lithiasis and with either acute or chronic pancreatitis. In these situations, it is sometimes difficult to distinguish precisely stenosis of the sphincter of Oddi from normal variations in the caliber of the duct at the sphincter. The significance of its role in the etiology of obstructive jaundice, biliary tract stones, pancreatitis, and symptoms referable to the biliary tract is also not easily defined. There is good evidence, however, to indicate that stenosis of the sphincter of Oddi is a primary factor in the pathogenesis of these disease states in certain patients. This report is concerned primarily with patients who were operated upon for