Peritoneoscopy--use in assessment of intra-abdominal malignancy.

Peritoneoscopy was performed on 236 patients between 1971 and 1980 to assess intraabdominal malignancy or to determine its presence when doubt existed. The diagnostic rate was 86%. The main causes of failure to reach a diagnosis were adhesions arising from previous surgery and tumor adhesions. It was a useful means of obtaining a tissue diagnosis, and the complication rate was low--4.5%. Peritoneoscopy demonstrated the cause of hepatomegaly in 90.9% of patients, the pathology of abdominal masses in 82.5%, and of ascites in 80.5%. It was also useful in assessing abdominal ultrasound and isotope liver scan abnormalities. The procedure is safe, cheap, and allows adequate assessment of intra-abdominal malignancy in a high proportion of patients.