Although "lipase" contains various lypolytic enzymes, the main object of lipase measurement is pancreatic lipase. Recent advances in pancreatic lipase research clarified its unique structure, and two novel pancreatic proteins, PLRL 1 and 2, were added to the pancreatic lipase gene family. In pancreatic lipase measurement, several new specific, sensitive, and reproducible assay methods were developed, and they have been widely adapted as routine tests. With these modern assays, pancreatic lipase has a good diagnostic utility for pancreatic disease.