title: Laparoscopic diagnosis of malignant retroperitoneal fibrosis.
abstract: Retroperitoneal fibrosis may be caused by a number of disease processes, both benign and malignant. Traditionally, open exploration and biopsy has been performed to exclude a malignant etiology prior to ureterolysis. We report a patient in whom a diagnosis of malignant retroperitoneal fibrosis was confirmed using laparoscopy. In patients in whom a metastatic etiology for retroperitoneal fibrosis is suspected, laparoscopy should be performed and representative biopsies taken. Laparoscopic techniques offer the urologist the ability to obtain an adequate tissue biopsy with a reduction in postoperative morbidity and convalescence associated with traditional laparotomy.
authors.affiliation: Urology Service, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10021, USA.
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Kava
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Conlon
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012185:Retroperitoneal Fibrosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D012186:Retroperitoneal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed