LAPAROSCOPIC CHOLECYSTECTOMY - POTENTIAL FOR MISSED PATHOLOGY

The performance of a general exploratory laparotomy immediately after opening the abdominal cavity has long been a foundation of surgical pr actice. Since the introduction of laparoscopy, this procedure has been modified. This may result in certain intra-abdominal pathologies bein g overlooked, especially in areas that are hard to observe with the la paroscope. In this paper we describe two patients who presented with c arcinomas after uneventful laparoscopic procedures, one of the lower o esophagus and the other of the pancreas. This raises questions about t he extent of preoperative investigation before the performance of lapa roscopic procedures.