Peritoneoscopy and pancreas biopsy in the diagnosis of pancreatic diseases.

Peritoneoscopy and pancreatic biopsy under direct vision were performed on 124 cases with a variety of pancreatic diseases by means of supragastric pancreoscopy and supragastric bursoscopy. Among 53 cases of pancreatitis, the pancreas was directly observed in 38 (72%). Among 71 cases of pancreatic carcinoma, observation of pancreas head carcinoma was accomplished in 32% and for pancreas body carcinoma, 85%. Peritoneoscopic biopsy of the pancreas had good diagnostic accuracy with negligible complications.