Background: Starting from the premise that abdominal tumours require very accurate assessment and staging, the study "DIASTAL" (laparoscopic diagnosis and staging of abdominal tumours) proposed to establish the effectiveness of laparoscopy in the diagnosis and resectability of these neoplasms. The aim of this study was to evaluate diagnostic laparoscopy for periampullary and pancreatic neoplasms.
Methods: The clinical study was based on the analysis two different groups including 27 patients in total, in whom we used also diagnostic laparoscopy as a staging method.
Results: The percentage of understaged patients after preoperative examinations was high in both groups range 59.09%-63.63%. Diagnostic laparoscopy reduced the number of unnecessary laparotomies.
Conclusions: Diagnostic laparoscopy could lead to more accurate assessment of periampullary and pancreatic cancers, not only as a staging method but also as a minimally invasive surgical technique for palliation.