title: Pancreatic cancer. Laparoscopic staging and peritoneal cytology.
abstract: Laparoscopy is an indispensable study if precise preoperative staging for pancreatic cancer is required. It will identify liver, peritoneal, or omental implants in 22% to 48% of patients who have no other evidence of disseminated disease by CT. Performing peritoneal washings at the time of laparoscopy will disclose an additional 8% of patients with micro metastases and who have an equally poor prognosis as those with visible metastases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA.
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Fernández-del Castillo
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Warshaw
mesh_terms: D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000166:cytology; D003581:Cytodiagnosis; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D010533:Peritoneal Lavage; D010534:Peritoneal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary