Abstract: The effects of conventional laparotomy and laparoscopic surgery on the peritoneal dissemination of VX2 tumors were evaluated in a rabbit model. Either 5 × 103 or 5 × 104 of VX2 tumor cells were inoculated into the peritoneal cavities of rabbits which were divided into three groups according to the procedure performed, namely, a conventional laparotomy group (group 1), a laparoscopy group (group 2), and a control group (group 3). All the animals were killed 2 weeks after the treatment to examine the spread of the VX2 tumor in the omentum. In the experiment in which 5 × 103 tumor cells were inoculated, no significant difference was found in the number of metastases among the three groups. Conversely, after inoculating 5 × 104 tumor cells, the mean numbers of metastatic colonies greater than 1 mm in diameter in the greater omentum were 14.4 ± 4.7 in group 1, 9.9 ± 2.4 in group 2, and 3.3 ± 1.1 in group 3, with a significant difference between groups 1 and 3, and between groups 2 and 3, but not between groups 1 and 2. In conclusion, conventional laparotomy facilitated the greatest peritoneal dissemination of a VX2 tumor in this animal model when 5 × 104 tumor cells were inoculated. Furthermore, laparoscopic surgery influences tumor growth to almost the same degree as conventional laparotomy.
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(Received for publication on Dec. 14, 1998; accepted on July 13, 1999)
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Murata, N., Ishida, H., Nomura, T. et al. The Facilitation of Peritoneal Dissemination of a Tumor by Laparotomy in a Rabbit Model. Surg Today 30, 54–58 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/PL00010047
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/PL00010047