title: The role of diagnostic laparoscopy in the management of patients with gastric cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gastric cancer continues to be a leading cause of cancer death. The treatment approach varies, and preoperative staging is therefore crucial since an exploratory laparotomy for unresectable gastric cancer will be followed by an unacceptably high morbidity and mortality rate.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the added value of diagnostic laparoscopy to conventional methods of diagnosis such as computed tomography in avoiding unnecessary laparotomies.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a retrospective study on 78 patients scheduled for curative gastrectomy based on CT staging. DL was performed prior to exploratory laparotomy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 23 of 78 patients (29.5%) unexpected peritoneal spread not detected on preoperative CT was found. Fifty-five patients underwent radical gastrectomy, 15 patients were referred for downstaging and 8 patients underwent a palliative procedure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on our results, DL should be considered in all gastric cancer patients scheduled for curative gastrectomy.
authors.affiliation: Division of Surgery, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel.
authors.forename: Andronik
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kapiev
authors.forename: Igor
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rabin
authors.forename: Ron
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lavy
authors.forename: Bar
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chikman
authors.forename: Zahar
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Shapira
authors.forename: Hasan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kais
authors.forename: Natan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Poluksht
authors.forename: Yaron
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Amsalam
authors.forename: Zvi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Halpern
authors.forename: Ilia
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Markon
authors.forename: Ilan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Wassermann
authors.forename: Ariel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Halevy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed