Laparoscopy and biopsy in the diagnosis of malignant intra-abdominal tumors.

Laparoscopic evaluation was effected in 298 patients with intra-abdominal tumors. Among 186 cases of liver tumor, 172 cases (92.5%) were diagnosed as tumors laparoscopically and malignant tissue was obtained in 71 cases (78.0%) out of 91 cases of liver tumors biopsied under laparoscopic guidance. Among 79 cases of pancreas tumors, laparoscopy led to the correct diagnosis in 32% (38 cases) of carcinoma of the head of the pancreas and 88% (41 cases) of carcinoma of the body and tail of the pancreas. The positive rate of biopsy in cases of tumor of the head of the pancreas and of the body and tail of the organ was 74.1% (20 out of 27 cases) and 84.6% (33 out of 39 cases), respectively. Laparoscopy supplemented by biopsy was useful for the diagnosis of submucosal tumors of the digestive tract and disseminated peritoneal tumors.