Diagnostic Laparoscopy Reduces Nontherapeutic Laparotomy in Pancreatic Cancer Surgery

Diagnostic laparoscopy in pancreatic cancer surgery can effectively avoid nontherapeutic laparotomy, especially in clinically high-risk patients. A retrospective review of 196 patients revealed that same-procedure diagnostic laparoscopy identified metastatic disease in 2.4% of cases, with a number needed to treat of 42. Focus should be on optimizing patient selection and exploring predictive diagnostic markers.