Diagnostic laparoscopy and ultrasonography for colorectal liver metastases.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: To evaluate diagnostic laparoscopy (DL) and laparoscopic ultrasonography (LUS) in the diagnostic workout of patients with colorectal liver metastases, who were considered to have resectable disease after multi detector computed tomography (MDCT). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The medical records of 45 patients, 22M/23F, mean age 62.0 (+/-10.6), who were considered to have resectable liver metastases after CT-scan, were analysed. RESULTS: DL and LUS could not be performed in 7 patients (16%) because of adhesions. Unresectable disease was detected by DL in 3 patients (7%), in all cases due to carcinosis. Additional lesions in the liver were detected by DL in 2 cases (4%), none of these making the patient unresectable. LUS showed additional lesions in 3 patients (7%), which in one case (2%) made the patient unresectable. None of the patients in the present study experienced adverse effects to DL or LUS. CONCLUSION: DL and LUS, due to the low efficacy with regard to avoid unnecessary laparotomies and the relative high failure rate because of adhesions, should not be a routine part of the diagnostic work out in patients with colo-rectal liver metastases.