title: [The use of laparoscopy for diagnosis and stadiation of the lymphomas].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate feasibility, safety and effectiveness of laparoscopic biopsies in the diagnosis and stadiation of intraabdominal lymphadenopathy.
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 2005 to December 2006 12 patients (5 males, 7 females, age 31-54, average 43) with intra-abdominal lymphadenopathy were admitted to our institution (V Chirurgia Generale Ospedale Ferrarotto Catania) to perform laparoscopic biopsies. Indication to treatment was primary diagnosis in ten patients and restaging in two cases. Laparoscopic procedure was performed with a three-trocars technique also using an ultrasound laparoscopic probe.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All cases were completed laparoscopically (conversion rate nil). Mean operation time: 35 min. All patients were discharged from hospital the day after the procedure. There were no complications. In all cases laparoscopic biopsies provided adequate tissue for correct diagnosis and complete immune-histochemical assessment (11 Lymphoma H, 1 Lymphoma NH).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Today surgery has a new important role in the diagnosis and stadiation of intraabdominal lymphadenopathy. Imaging such as TC-RM and Surgery Radiology Techniques (fine needle aspiration and core needle biopsy) are frequently inadequate to diagnosis and show a worse diagnostic accuracy than laparoscopic biopsies. Our limited experience in accordance with major literature reports demonstrate laparoscopic procedure is really effective and safe.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laparoscopic lymph node biopsy safely provides adequate tissue for full histological evaluation in patients with intra-abdominal lymphadenopathy adding the advantages of "miniinvasive" techniques.
authors.affiliation: Unità Operativa Clinica Chirurgica-Dipartimento di Chirurgia, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria "Vittorio Emanuele" Ferrarotto, S. Bambino, Catania.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Biondi
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Motta
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Giunta
authors.forename: Rosario Maria
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Crisafi
authors.forename: Sebastiano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zappalà
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rapisarda
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Basile
mesh_terms: D000008:Abdominal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging