[Significance of laparoscopy in gynaecological oncology: limitations for adnexal tumours].

In the last few decades, the impact and use of laparoscopy for benign adnexal tumours have markedly increased. However, the surgical resection of early-stage ovarian malignoma remains controversial. This review evaluates the importance of laparoscopy in surgery of adnexa and especially of malignant tumours. Certainly, morbidity after laparoscopy is lower, but there is a risk of possibly more restricted staging, rupture of the tumour and port metastases. Analysis showed that the standard treatment of ovarian malignant tumours is laparotomy via a vertical incision, because data on laparoscopy are scarce and prospective, randomized trials for early-stage ovarian cancer are still missing. Staging by laparoscopy is technically feasible, but so far there is no proof of safety.