Erweiterte diagnostische laparoskopie (EDL)

Extended Diagnostic Laparoscopy (EDL) Background: The so-called extended diagnostic laparoscopy (EDL) facilitates the comprehensive exploration of the abdominal cavity, thus improving the precision of the pretherapeutic tumor staging in gastrointestinal malignancies. Methods: EDL comprehends the visual inspection with a surgical dissection of all relevant sites, laparoscopic sonography and retrieval of samples for biopsy and cytology. Results: Additional relevant therapeutic information was obtained through EDL in 40,5% of gastric cancer patients. The EDL could be of similar importance for diagnosing of the esophageal, hepatobiliary and and pancreatic malignancies. Conclusions: The overall complication rate of EDL is low. However, the potential of tumor cell dissemination cannot entirely be excluded. Accordingly, EDL should only be performed in cases in which therapeutic consequences may result.