English

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Many surgeons worldwide had challenging experience of facing an unexplainable and uncertain diagnosis or staging of abdominal malignancies. Laparoscopic visualisation techniques have improved dramatically and had led to reassessment of the laparoscope for use in the staging of intraabdominal malignancies. To evaluate place of preoperative laparoscopy as an additional tool to diagnose, assess staging and operability of intraabdominal tumors. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: A prospective observational case series. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty five consecutive cases undergoing preoperative staging laparoscopy from December 2008 to September 2010 were reviewed in order to determine the value of laparoscopy as a staging tool. Indications for staging laparoscopy were predominantly hepatopancreaticobiliary (45%); however, other primaries such as stomach and colon were included. RESULTS: Unnecessary laparotomies prevented in 57.14% of cases. Metastatic spread detected by laparoscopy was in 40% of cases. The sensitivity and specificity of laparoscopy in Abdominal malignancies to detect resectable disease is 65.3% and 100% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: laparoscopy is a useful preoperative staging tool and can help avoid unnecessary laparotomy for abdominal malignancy in one- half of cases.