title: Port site metastasis after diagnostic laparoscopy for upper gastrointestinal tract malignancies: an uncommon entity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The role of laparoscopy for diagnosing, staging, and treating intra-abdominal malignancies is increasing. This study was designed to examine the incidence of port site metastasis and open incision site metastasis for upper gastrointestinal tract (GI) malignancies.
  
  
  METHODS
  From a prospective database maintained by the Department of Surgery, patients undergoing laparoscopy for upper GI malignancies were identified. Clinical outcomes and recurrences were noted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between January 1993 and January 2001, 1965 laparoscopic procedures were identified. After those patients lost to follow-up were excluded, 1650 procedures were performed in 1548 patients. Port site implantation for all laparoscopies occurred in 13 (.79%) of 1650, with a median time to recurrence of 8.2 months. After laparotomy, open incision site recurrence occurred in 9 (.86%) of 1040 (not significant). Among the patients resected, there were 5 (.60%) of 830 port site recurrences and 7 (.84%) of 830 open incision site recurrences. At the time of diagnosis of recurrence, all of the patients with port site and five of seven with open site implantation had distant or local disease, or both, as well.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Port site implantation after diagnostic laparoscopy for upper GI malignancy is uncommon, does not seem to be different from open incision site recurrence, and occurs in the setting of advanced disease. Therefore, the risk of port site recurrence cannot be used as an argument against laparoscopy in upper GI malignancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021, USA.
authors.forename: Margo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shoup
authors.forename: Murray F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Brennan
authors.forename: Martin S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Karpeh
authors.forename: Susan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Gillern
authors.forename: Ross L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: McMahon
authors.forename: Kevin C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Conlon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D009366:Neoplasm Seeding; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies