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.