VALUE OF DIAGNOSTIC LAPAROSCOPY IN ABDOMINAL-MALIGNANCIES

Diagnostic laparoscopy was performed in 72 patients for diagnosis of s uspected 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 tests and h elped to plan proper surgical management. Laparoscopy has proved to be an effective diagnostic tool in abdominal malignancies and should hel p to avoid unnecessary laparotomies in case of incurable disease. It s hould be used complementary to non-invasive imaging methods and the ad dition of laparoscopic ultrasonography will improve the accuracy of ex amination.