Management of abdominal lymphoproliferative diseases in the era of laparoscopy

BACKGROUND: The treatment of lymphoproliferative diseases requires extensiv e histological, immunohistochemical, and cytogenetic diagnosis. The aim of this study was to analyze the results of 66 laparoscopic procedures in the diagnosis, staging, and restaging of hematological malignancies localized i n the abdominal cavity. METHODS: Between July 1993 and March 1998, 64 consecutive patients (28 male and 36 female; mean age 46.6 years, range 7 to 69) with diagnosed or suspe cted lymphoproliferative diseases were referred for primary diagnosis or re assessment and for staging/restaging. RESULTS: Sixty-two out of 66 procedures (93.9%) were completed laparoscopic ally. CONCLUSIONS: The minimally invasive approach, in the management of lymphopr oliferative diseases, is able not only to provide an adequate specimen for proper diagnostic techniques, but also, when compared with open surgery, to offer a large number of advantages. Am J Surg; 1999;177: 325-330. (C) 1999 by Excerpta Medica, Inc.