Laparoscopic staging of biliopancreatic malignancy

The main benefit of laparoscopic staging (LLU) of (distal) biliopancreatic malignancy is the detection of small superficial metastases at the liver su rface and peritoneum and local tumor ingrowth. The different aspects of lap aroscopic staging have been described extensively in the literature and the benefit is generally expressed in terms of prevention of laparotomy. The i mpact of this final staging procedure on outcome for the patient in terms o f the efficacy of the subsequent non-surgical palliative treatment have bee n analysed scarsly. In this review the results of laparoscopic staging of b ilio-pancreatic tumors concerning the detection of metastases and tumor ing rowth as well as the results of long term follow up after subsequent non-su rgical treatment and the preferred palliative treatment after laparoscopic staging are discussed.