[Laparoscopic diagnosis vs ultrasonography and axial computed tomography in focal hepatic lesions]

93 (Ninety-three) cases were selected out of 895 laparoscopies made from 1980 through 1988 at the Endoscopy Department of "Alejandro Posadas" Hospital. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic reliability of Ultrasonography and C.A.T. (Computerized Axial Tomography) when compared with a laparoscopic diagnosis in patients with Focal Hepatic Lesions. The average age of patients was 58 years old, 50 males (53.7%) and 43 female (46.3%); 62.3% of patients had histologic or cytological confirmation. The diagnoses we made were: 66 metastases; 10 hepatocarcinomas; 8 cysts; 5 lymphomas; 2 angiomas; 1 nodular hyperplasia and 1 abscess. Ultrasonography and/or C.A.T. were performed in every case. Ultrasonography was applied in 58 patients, C.A.T. in 9 and both ultrasonography and C.A.T. were applied in 26 cases. The diagnosis of Focal Hepatic Lesions was made with ultrasonography in 55 patients (65.5%). The C.A.T.-based diagnosis of Focal Hepatic Lesions was made in 27 patients (77.1%). Laparoscopy has proved to be an excellent diagnostic method for studying Focal Hepatic Lesions especially in primary or secondary malignant lesions and vascular pathologies of the liver.