MALIGNANT-TUMORS MISSED AT LAPAROSCOPIC CHOLECYSTECTOMY

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is now the treatment of choice for gallstone disease. The wide acceptance of LC resulted in in creased cholecystectomy rates and entailed specific drawbacks such as the missed malignant tumors of other organs. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The prospective follow-up of patients who underwent LC was studied, and a ll patients treated for malignant disease were included regarding a hi story of LC. RESULTS: Of 838 LCs performed, 5 patients underwent reope ration for missed carcinoma of the pancreas (n = 2) and the right colo n (n = 3). Two other patients with carcinomas of the pancreas and the right colon had a history of LC performed elsewhere. All 7 patients (m edian age 72 years) complained of recent atypical pain at the time of the LC. Five tumors were resected (2 palliatively); 2 patients died. C ONCLUSIONS: This study emphasizes the necessity of making a careful se miological analysis of the pain and associated symptoms before perform ing an LC.