Abstract
The First Department of Internal Medicine, Yamaguchi University school of Medicine, Ube, Japan. We have reported that an ordinary laparoscopy has limitation in observing the entire liver surface in spite of its benefit to directly diagnose a localized lesion, particularly hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We have developed four types of ultrasonic laparoscope in cooperation with Machida Co. and Toshiba Medical Co. since 1981, as reported previous-ly. We here-in reported diagnostic usefulness of a new type ultrasonic laparoscope (model V), inserted linear electronic real-time scanner of 5.0 MHz. Tte characteristics are as follow. 1) linear scanner type of ultrasonography. 2) forward-oblique type of optical system. 3) flexible fiberscope system. 4) panning system. We have applied these equipments to 30 cases of miscellaneous disease. It is concluded that the ultrasonic laparoscope can increase the diagnostic ability of localized lesions on and inside of the liver, gall bladder and pancreas.
