Diagnostic laparoscopy in patients with acute leukemia and suspected hepatic candidiasis

To assess the value of laparoscopy in the diagnosis of suspected hepatosplenic candidiasis in patients with acute leukemia, a retrospective analysis of 28 laparoscopies was conducted. In all but two cases, imaging of the liver showed focal lesions before laparoscopy. Diagnosis of hepatic candidiasis was established significantly more often when the biopsy was targeted at white nodules (in 12 of 22 laparoscopies) than when targeted randomly or at scars (0 of 6 laparoscopies) (p = 0.017, chi-square test). Yeast was detected more often if the laparoscopy was performed during the three-week period after recovery from neutropenia (in 8 of 12 laparoscopies) than when performed later (in 4 of 16 laparoscopies) (p = 0.028, chi-square test). In addition to the 12 laparoscopically diagnosed patients, eight (29%) patients were diagnosed with disseminated Candida infection by other methods. In another eight (29%) patients the causative agent was not identified. No bleeding or other problems occurred after the laparoscopy. Laparoscopy-guided liver biopsy is most useful if biopsies are targeted to macroscopic lesions and if laparoscopy is performed soon after recovery from neutropenia.