Suker M, et al. - Researchers sought to assess the yield of occult metastases during staging laparoscopy in patients with Locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC). Data from a prospectively maintained database yielded 91 (41% male, median age 64 years) LAPC patients for inclusion. CT-scan and staging laparoscopy had a median interval of 21 days. Seventeen patients (19%) were identified to have metastases during staging laparoscopy. The findings emphasize performing staging laparoscopy for accurate staging to determine optimal treatment for patients with LAPC. As per univariate logistic regression analysis, CEA was identified to be the only preoperative predictor for occult metastases. The multivariable logistic regression analysis of the preoperative risk factors also indicated CEA to be an independent predictor for occult metastatic disease. They noted a risk of occult metastasis of 91% among patients with a CEA above 5 μg/L.