Laparoscopy in primary carcinoma of the gallbladder

Fifty-three patients with suspected gallbladder carcinoma underwent ultrasonography and laparoscopy. Laparoscopy correctly excluded malignancy in five patients when ultrasonography had suggested gallbladder neoplasia. Of 48 patients with gallbladder carcinoma, laparoscopy identified 46 (95.8%) as compared with 30 (62.5%) by ultrasonography (p less than 0.001). Distant metastases in the liver, parietal peritoneum, or omentum were present in 41 patients (85.4%) and were detected by laparoscopy in 39 (sensitivity 95%) and by ultrasonography in 21 (sensitivity 51.2%) (p less than 0.001). Combination of ultrasonography and laparoscopy improved the overall diagnostic accuracy to 100%. Laparoscopy provided histological diagnosis of the disease in 36 patients (75%) and circumvented unnecessary laparotomy in 40 (83.3%) patients by revealing advanced or associated disease. When laparoscopy suggested that the disease was localized, the diagnosis was correct in 83.3% (5 of 6) patients. Laparoscopy under local anesthesia is useful in the diagnosis and staging of gallbladder carcinoma, and therefore helpful in planning management.