The value of laparoscopy in the diagnosis of primary cancer of the liver.

A retrospective survey organized by the Spanish Association for Digestive Endoscopy among its members has revealed that a correct diagnosis of primary liver cancer could be made by guided biopsy during laparoscopy in 153 of 208 cases. A diagnosis of malignancy was made in 103 of 145 cases of carcinoma associated with cirrhosis and in 50 of 63 cases without cirrhosis, but in the latter, the lesions were endoscopically indistinguishable from metastatic nodules in most instances. Biopsy was positive in 88% of all suspicious cases. Carcinomatous invasion of seemingly benign cirrhotic nodules could be demonstrated in 22 other patients.