[Value of laparoscopy in the diagnosis of liver cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis].
The purpose of the study was evaluation of laparoscopy in the diagnosis of cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis. The studied material comprised 197 cases of cholestasis in which for diagnostic-prognostic purposes laparoscopy was done. During visual observation of the abdominal cavity in 81 cases cirrhosis and in 25 chronic hepatitis was diagnosed. The reliability of the laparoscopic diagnosis was verified by the microscopic verification of the material obtained by guided biopsy of the liver or during operation. Among 81 cases of cirrhosis diagnosed during laparoscopy histological confirmation was obtained in 68 cases (83.9%). In the group of 25 cases with laparoscopic diagnosis of chronic hepatitis the diagnosis was confirmed histologically in 21 (84%) cases. The authors believe that laparoscopy extends the diagnostic possibilities in liver diseases. However reliable diagnosis can be obtained by microscopic examination of liver fragments obtained by guided biopsy or operation.