The results of diagnostic laparoscopy in 42 patients are reviewed. A histological diagnosis was achieved in 23 of 26 cases of suspected intraperitoneal disease (15 cases of malignant disease, 4 cases of peritoneal or intra-abdominal tuberculosis and 4 cases of benign hepatic lesions in which percutaneous biopsy had failed to obtain a representative specimen). In 10 patients with abdominal trauma the source of the problem was identified, and in 2 of these successful conservative management was undertaken on the basis of the laparoscopic findings. In 6 patients with abdominal pain of unknown cause no lesion could be identified, and the procedure was abandoned in 2 patients because of dense intraperitoneal adhesions. There was no associated mortality and the morbidity rate was 0,5%.