David A. Iannitti

Department of Surgery, The Rhode Island Hospital and the Brown University School of Medicine, Providence RI

Received 9/3/98 Accepted 9/10/98

1. ABSTRACT

Video laparoscopy has undergone significant advancements in the past several years. This technology can be applied to the management of patients with pancreatic carcinoma. Laparoscopy can be used to achieve the following goals when treating patients with pancreatic cancer: (1) to accurately stage the disease including diagnosis of intraperitoneal and extrapancreatic disease, (2) to evaluate resectability, (3) in resectional therapy and, (4) in palliation of unresectable disease. This chapter reviews in detail these four applications of the laparoscopic surgical approach in the management of patients with pancreatic carcinoma.