Laparoscopic ultrasonography

The use of laparoscopic ultrasonography (LUS) allows visualization of tissu es beyond the two-dimensional laparoscopic picture, enhancing the amount an d quality of information available to the surgeon, Linear-array transducers with frequencies of 7.5 to 10 MHz are typically used for LUS, employing B- mode scanning and color Doppler capability on probes with articulating tips . In general surgery, LUS has become a common adjunct to the intraoperative staging of upper gastrointestinal malignancy to determine resectability, a voiding unnecessary laparotomy, In urology, LUS appears to be a promising a djunct for four current procedures: difficult pelvic lymphocele marsupializ ation, renal cyst decortication, nephrolithotomy and other renal stone surg ery, and cryotherapy of renal masses. The role of LUS during varicocelectom y is limited, and enthusiasm for this procedure is waning, Laparoscopic ult rasonography is a critical adjunct to renal cryoablation, a developmental p rocedure that currently lacks long-term data but is promising as therapy fo r small, incidentally detected renal masses, It appears that as laparoscopi c urologic procedures continue to expand, so will the application of this p romising operative imaging modality.