Value of diagnostic laparoscopy in primary malignant liver tumors
Wolff, M.; Ulrich, A.; Müller, A.; Hirner, A.
Langenbecks Archiv für Chirurgie. Supplement. Kongressband. Deutsche Gesellschaft für Chirurgie. Kongress 115: 1331-1334
1998
ISSN/ISBN: 0942-2854 PMID: 9931873 Document Number: 496537
The advent of new imaging modalities such as CT-AP and MRT has markedly improved the diagnosis and staging of primary liver tumors and will change the diagnostic impact of laparoscopy. Diagnostic laparoscopy in this retrospective study was not found to add information in regard to tumor staging and resectability, and there was no clear benefit by avoiding diagnostic laparotomies when all imaging and biopsy techniques available were used preoperatively. Therefore, we advocate the use of diagnostic laparoscopy only in selected cases suspicious for superficial small tumor lesions and cirrhosis with impact on the treatment modality.