Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, Vol 15, Issue 4 288-295, Copyright © 1996 by American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
Laparoscopic liver sonography: preliminary experience in liver metastases compared with CT portography
R. I. Feld, J. B. Liu, L. Nazarian, A. S. Lev-Toaff, L. Needleman, N. M. Rawool, D. A. Merton, S. R. Segal, F. E. Rosato, D. J. Barbot and B. B. Goldberg
Department of Radiology, Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, USA.
This study evaluated the ability of laparoscopic ultrasonography to detect,
localize, and characterize focal liver masses. Laparoscopic ultrasonography
and CT portography of the liver were performed in 13 patients with known or
suspected malignancy. Laparoscopic ultrasonography directly influenced
surgical management in four (31%) cases; three by detection of small focal
masses and one by exclusion of masses suspected on CT portography.
Laparoscopic ultrasonography provided guidance for biopsy or added
important anatomic information in three cases. Laparoscopic ultrasonography
was complementary to CT portography but added no additional information in
three cases, and it failed to provide any information in two cases.
Laparoscopic ultrasonography was falsely negative in one case. In this
preliminary series, laparoscopic ultrasonography assisted surgeons in
critical decision-making by either providing important new information,
clarifying questionable areas, or complementing CT portography.
