All of these studies and the fact that a large number of patients diagnosed and staged as having resectable primary or metastatic hepatic tumors that turn out to have unresectable disease on laparotomy. Makes the incorporation of laparoscopy and laparoscopic ultrasonography into the investigative algorithm of such patients seams appropriate as the most sensitive method for accurate staging of the primary and metastatic hepatic tumors. We do not suggest that they replace the preoperative imaging techniques but rather be used to complement them for more optimum therapeuticstrategies.