[Diagnosis of liver cirrhosis, laparoscopy, liver biopsy]

Laparoscopy is employed widely throughout hepatology. Its popularity as a diagnostic tool is more the result of tradition than the consequence of a rational evaluation of its usefulness. In diagnosis of cirrhosis, laparoscopic findings are more specific and almost equally sensitive. The presence of more fibrous tissue makes it firm to palpation. A rigid, raised edge suggests fibrosis of the parenchyma. In cirrhosis, nodules can be found on the margin or can even, as in the macronodular form, fully obscure it. Diffusely nodular liver can frequently make a definite diagnosis of cirrhosis. The nodules can vary in diameter from a few millimetres to several centimeters.