Laparoscopic ultrasound vs triphasic computed tomography for detecting liver tumors.

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
PRIMARY AND metastatic tumors of the liver continue to present a therapeutic challenge. Accurate staging of malignant tumors in the liver has major implications in defining prognosis and guiding both surgical and nonsurgical therapeutic strategies.1 Preoperative imaging studies, such as computed tomography (CT), CT arterial portography, and magnetic resonance imaging with and without liver contrast, are improving at a rapid rate but still lack sensitivity for small lesions in the liver.2-5 For this reason, intraoperative ultrasound and palpation are almost uniformly used to complete the examination of the liver for assessment of potential resectability.3 It is estimated that 40% to 70% of patients who undergo laparotomy for potential liver resection have additional disease discovered in the operating room that precludes resection.6