The single-center study included 102 patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) from November 2021 to June 2025 who underwent staging laparoscopy (SL) before treatment. Before SL, 45 patients (44.1%) were classified as resectable (R), 36 (35.0%) as borderline resectable (BR), and 21 (20.6%) as unresectable locally advanced (UR-LA). SL detected distant metastases in 24 patients (23.5%), including 17.8% of patients with R PDAC. Positive CEA and CA19-9 ≥ 150 U/ml were independently associated with a higher risk of occult metastases. No morbidity or mortality occurred. In patients with the intention to treat, the median overall survival (OS) was over 22 months and the median recurrence-free survival (DFS) was 22 months. In UR-LA PDAC, OS did not improve after SL. SL is recommended in R or BR PDAC, especially with elevated tumor markers, for accurate staging and appropriate treatment.