Laparoscopy in gynecologic oncology: a review of literature.

Introducing laparoscopy in gynecology during the 1960s in Europe placed gynecology as pioneer in this less invasive approach in surgery. At that time, gynecological laparoscopy was predominantly used in diagnostics by means of direct visualization of pelvis minor. During the 1970s the gynecologists shifted the use of endoscopic technology from diagnostic to surgical purposes such as tubal ligation. From that time, laparoscopy has become a leading technique in diagnostics and surgical treatment of benign lesions in gynecology . By using laparoscopy in detection of bladder and prostate carcinoma spreading into the lymph nodes urologists have become the pioneers of the use of laparoscopy in the field of oncology . During the late 1980s, the initiators of endoscopic oncology began with laparoscopic evaluations of the condition and spreading of the malignant disease. The first reports were available at the beginning of 1990s, and with them came the controversial opinions about the usefulness of laparoscopy and minimal invasive surgery in gynecologic oncology. Disagreements were mainly associated with medicolegal aspects of possible consequences resulted from inadequate surgical treatment of malignant diseases.