Abstract
Laparoscopic findings of five cases of hepatic amyloidosis and its diagnostic signifi-cance were reported. The histological study of one of those cases demonstrated massive amyloid deposition in both the sinusoidal wall and the portal area. In the section of the liver biopsy of the other four cases, however, amyloid deposition was limited to portal area. The laparoscopy of the former case revealed diffuse reddish-purple, course granular liver with extensive dilatation of surface vessels and lymphatics, while on the liver of the latter cases, there were many fibrous adhesions between the liver and the peritoneum, and white fibrous band surrounding the central reddish-purple area was observed. The liver biopsy of these five cases was performed safely under laparoscopy. There is no specific diagnostic procedure except for laparoscopy, and we occasionnally had difficult cases to make a diagnosis of amyloidosis with histological examination of the liver biopsy with routine staining method. The laparoscopic findings of hepatic amyloidosis were characteristic, and liver biopsy could be performed safely under laparoscopy. Thus, laparoscopy was thought to be a significant and beneficial method for a diagnosis of hepatic amyloidosis.
