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Purpose To investigate the utility of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI-MRI) to predict operability (R-status) and survival of patients with borderline resectable (BR) and locally advanced (LA) pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT). Materials and methods Two readers retrospectively analysed 25 consecutive patients with BR/LA-PDAC who underwent restaging DW-MRI after NACT prior to surgery. Interreader agreement was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Whole tumor apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) was correlated with 1-year overall survival with a cut-off value determined by receiver-operator characteristic (ROC) curve. Additionally for each vessel circumferential extent-, change- and length of contact, stenosis, contour irregularity/attraction, perivascular ADC value, qualitative degree- and circumferential extent of diffusion restriction were determined. Chi-Square test or regression analysis was performed to determine correlation between these features and the need for vascular resection. Results Interobserver agreement for whole-tumor ADC was moderate (0.650). Post-NACT whole tumor ADC was significantly higher (p=0.034) for patients with 1 year overall survival post-surgery with cut-off value of 1.278*10-³ mm²/s and area under the curve (AUC) of 0.822. No arterial resections were performed, 10/21 operable patients required venous resection. Circumferential extent of soft tissue contact, stenosis, contour irregularity/attraction, change in vascular contact and perivascular ADC value were associated (p<0,05) with a need for venous resection, of these perivascular ADC value less than 1,480*10-3 mm³/s was most accurate (AUC 0.815). Conclusion Post-NACT tumor mean ADC was predictive for postoperative survival. Addition of DW-MRI features may result in more accurate preoperative restaging of PDAC patients after NACT.