Laparoscopy, also known as diagnostic laparoscopy, is a surgical diagnostic procedure used to examine the organs inside the abdomen. It is a low-risk, minimally invasive procedure. Only small incisions are made.
Laparoscopy uses an instrument called a laparoscope to look at the abdominal organs. A laparoscope is a long, thin tube with a high-intensity light and a high-resolution camera at the front. The instrument is inserted through an incision in the abdominal wall. As it moves along, the camera sends images to a video monitor.
Laparoscopy allows your doctor to see inside your body in real time, without open surgery. Your doctor also can obtain biopsy samples during this procedure.

Laparoscopy is done to:
Check for and possibly take out abnormal growths (such as tumors) in the belly or pelvis.
Check for and treat conditions such as endometriosis, ectopic pregnancy, or pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).
Find conditions that can make it hard for a woman to become pregnant. These conditions include cysts, adhesions, fibroids, and infection. Laparoscopy may be done after initial infertility tests do not show the cause for the infertility.
Do a biopsy.
See whether cancer in another area of the body has spread to the belly.
Check for damage to internal organs, such as the spleen, after an injury or accident.