Staging laparoscopy is a short keyhole procedure where a surgeon inserts a camera into the abdomen to look for cancer spread that scans may not detect. It is often done before major surgery for stomach, pancreatic, esophageal, ovarian and peritoneal cancers. It helps avoid unnecessary large operations and ensures patients get the right treatment from the start.
Why Is It Needed?
- Scans can miss deposits smaller than a few millimetres
- Peritoneal spread is often hard to see on imaging
- It prevents patients from undergoing major surgery that would not help
- It allows accurate staging and treatment planning
Which Cancers Commonly Use It?
- Stomach cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Esophageal and junction cancers
- Ovarian cancer
- Peritoneal surface malignancies before CRS and HIPEC
- Some liver and bile duct cancers
How Is It Done?
- General anaesthesia
- One to three small incisions
- Gas inflates the abdomen for viewing
- Camera inspects the peritoneum, liver, bowel and other organs
- Biopsies of suspicious areas
- Peritoneal washings to check for free cancer cells
It usually takes under an hour.
What Can It Show?
- Peritoneal deposits
- Small liver surface tumours
- Tumour invasion into nearby structures
- Free cancer cells in fluid
- Peritoneal Cancer Index for HIPEC planning
Recovery
- Often discharged the same day or the next day
- Mild pain at incision sites
- Shoulder tip pain from gas, which settles quickly
- Return to normal activities within a few days
How Does It Change Treatment?
- No spread found: proceed with planned surgery
- Limited spread: may consider chemotherapy then reassess, or CRS-HIPEC in suitable cases
- Extensive spread: systemic treatment instead of major surgery
Risks
Staging laparoscopy is generally safe. Rare risks include bleeding, infection or injury to organs.
Key Takeaways
- Staging laparoscopy finds spread scans can miss.
- It prevents unnecessary major surgery.
- It is quick with fast recovery.
- Biopsies and washings guide treatment.
- It is common before stomach, pancreatic and peritoneal surgery.
Final Thoughts
Staging laparoscopy is a small step that can make a big difference to the right treatment plan. It ensures each patient's path is based on accurate information. For cancer staging and surgical planning, you can consult Dr. Varadharajan, a surgical oncologist in Chennai.
