Value of diagnostic laparoscopy in abdominal malignancies.

Diagnostic laparoscopy was performed in 72 patients for diagnosis of suspected cancer or staging of intraabdominal malignancies. In 66 of 72 patients (91.7%) a diagnosis was possible laparoscopically and in 53 patients (73.6%) a laparotomy was avoided. In 19 of 72 patients (26.4%) laparoscopy changed staging of preoperative non-invasive test and helped to plan proper surgical management. Laparoscopy has proved to be an effective diagnostic tool in abdominal malignancies and should help to avoid unnecessary laparotomies in case of incurable disease. It should be used complementary to non-invasive imaging methods and the addition of laparoscopic ultrasonography will improve the accuracy of examination.