Abstract
Utility and limitation of the laparoscopic examination aimed at the diagnosis of hepatic cancer which is one of the localized liver diseases are studied. The subjects were 13 patients of whom hepatectomy and autopsy were performed after laparoscopy, and other laboratory and X-ray examination were also performed. In 6 cases, malignant tumor on liver surface was seen under direct vision through laparoscope. While, malignant tumor was not appeared in 2 cases laparoscopically, although hepatic cancer was diagnosed by other examinations. In 3 cases, liver maligancy was failed to be diagnosed by both of the examination of laparoscope and other evaluations, however, hepatic cancer grew up after 6 or 12 months later. Last 2 cases was liver cirrhosis. The area of liver surface which was able to see under laparoscope was measured retrospectively in comparison with removed livers by operation and autopsy. Visualized areas by laparoscopy in these cases were about 24 percent of the entire liver surface in right lobe and 62 percent of that in left lobe. In this study, 6 cases out of 8 patients with hepatic cancer were diagnosed by laparos-cope. Furthermore, visualizing limitation on the liver surface while laparoscopy using present apparatus was clarified.
