Laparoscopy in combination with laparoscopic ultrasonography is a new staging procedure for tumors of the abdomen. The treatment of several other tumor entities, such as pancreatic and gastric cancer, lymphoma, ovarian cancer, liver malignancies, is also improved by more accurate staging. Laparoscopic staging helps prevent unnecessary laparotomies, provides much less trauma to the patient, maximum information on tumor spread, and enables palliative procedures to be performed during the staging procedure. This book provides detailed guidelines on the aim and technique of laparoscopic staging and discusses the pathophysiological aspects and risks of laparoscopic staging (such as trocar metastases) on the basis of international experience.

Basic Aspects

Technical Aspects of Pneumoperitoneum and Gasless Laparoscopy
Equipment and Strategies of Staging Laparoscopy
Pathophysiological Aspects of the Pneumoperitoneum
Risk of Port Site Métastases
Results and Strategies of Clinical Applications: Gastrointestinal Tract
Staging Laparoscopy for Esophageal Cancer
The Role of Laparoscopy in the Staging of Gastric Cancer
Extended Diagnostic Laparoscopy in Gastric Cancer
Laparoscopic Staging for Pancreatic Malignancy
Laparoscopic Ultrasonography for Staging of Gastrointestinal Cancer
Further Results and Strategies of Clinical Application
Contribution to Initial Staging and Assessment of Treatment Results in Gynecologic Cancers
Indications in Urologic Tumors
Is There Any Role for the Laparoscopic Staging of Urologie Malignancies?
Impact of Laparoscopy in Malignant Lymphomas.