Impact of diagnostic laparoscopy on the management of gastric cancer

Abstract EN

In this study, 50 patients with endoscopically proven gastric adenocarcinoma were included.

Ages of our patients ranged from 35 to 72 years (mean 54 years), with male predominance (male to female - 2.8:1).

The site of the tumours were in the antrum, body of the stomach, proximal 1/3 of the stomach, body and antrum, fundus and linitis plastica in 17 (34%), 12 (24%), 10 (20%), 5 (10%), 4 (8%) and 2 (4%) cases, respectively.

Ultrasonography, CT scan and Iqparoscopy were performed to all patients.

The sensitivity of the 3 modalities in detection of hepatic metastases were 26.7%, 46.7% and 86.7%, respectively.

Also, the' sensitivity of the 3 modalities in detection of peritoneal metastases were 33.3%, 16.7% and 83.3%, respectively.

Laparoscopy avoided laparotomy in 18 (36%) of our patients.

We concluded that diagnostic laparoscopy is more accurate than other tests under investigations.

It is of increasing importance in planning patient management with the use of non-operative methods of tumour palliation in patients with intraabdominal metastases.