Transvaginal laparoscopy proposed as an investigation procedure for patients at high-risk for ovarian cancer

Transvaginal laparoscopy (TVL) was performed in 23 patients at high risk for ovarian cancer (OC). The patients were placed in the lithotomy position after sedation and a veres needle was inserted in the posterior vaginal vault. A trocar followed and warm normal saline was injected into the pelvis. The needle was removed and a telescope connected to a light source and monitor was introduced. Excellent visualization was achieved in all cases examined and the average time of TVL was 30 min. All patients except one found TVL a simple and painless procedure. TVL helped in the diagnosis of six benign ovarian lesions and ruled out OC in the other 17 cases. TVL is an easy method to learn with reliable results. TVL can reduce the number of unnecessary laparoscopies and/or laparotomies and it seems to be useful in ruling out OC.

Ovarian cancer; Transvaginal laparoscopy

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