PORT SITE METASTASES FOLLOWING LAPAROSCOPIC CHOLECYSTECTOMY FOR UNSUSPECTED CARCINOMA OF THE GALLBLADDER

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is considered as the new gold standard op eration for removal of the gallbladder, and has several advantages ove r the traditional open cholecystectomy. However, in the last few years there is an increasing number of case reports of port site metastases following laparoscopic cholecystectomy for unsuspected carcinoma of t he gallbladder. Two case reports of trocar site metastases are present ed, and they further highlight the concern of the role of minimal inva sive surgery in the presence of unsuspected carcinoma of the gallbladd er. In this review we speculate on the mechanisms which may be respons ible for metastatic deposits during laparoscopic cholecystectomy and s uggest certain recommendations.