Laparoscopic extended cholecystectomy

Background: Inadvertent dissemination of latent gallbladder (GB) cancer has become a crucial issue with the widespread use of laparoscopic cholecystec tomy as a standard operation for benign gallbladder diseases. Methods: Laparoscopic extended cholecystectomy is a new technique we have d eveloped for the resection of GB tumors with suspicion of malignancy. The p rocedure is safe and minimally invasive and prevents tumor dissemination. T he GB is resected laparoscopically along with a 1-cm margin of the liver us ing LaparoSonic Coagulating Shears without any ligation or clipping. Results: We applied this technique to a patient with a GB tumor in the fund us. The tumor was not exposed on the cut surface, and there were no postope rative complications. Conclusion: Laparoscopic extended cholecystectomy for GB tumors with suspic ion of malignancy is a minimally invasive technique that may decrease the r isk of tumor dissemination.