With developement of noninvasive diagnostic test such as computed tomography (CT), ultrasongraphy and image-guided biopsies, the role of peritoneoscopy for the diagnosis of peritoneal carcinomatosis has been questioned. Retrospective study
including 42
patients who were diagnosed as carcinomatosis peritonel by peritoneoscopic biopsy from July, 1980 to July, 1992 at Dongsan Hospital was done.
Sixth decade was the most common age and sex distribution was relatively equal. The inost common chief complaint was abdominal distension (57.1%) and the nature of ascitic fluid was exudate in all cases. Of the 19 cases who were examined ascitic
cytology, 13 cases (68.5%) were above class 3. 18 cases (72%) were diagnosed as carcinomatosis peritonel on abdominal CT, while 7 cases (28%) as benign among 25 cases. The latter percent was similar to the poercent of the cases with even sized
multiple
small miliary nodules or flat lesions on peritoneoscopy which could bo missed on abdominal CT.
In conclusion, peritoneoscopy is still the precedure of choice for diagnosing carcinomatosis peritonei with a negative finding on imaging diagnostic test.
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