Exploratory surgery

Exploratory surgery is a diagnostic method used by doctors when trying to find a diagnosis for an ailment. It can be performed in both humans and animals, but it is far more common in animals. It is used most commonly to diagnose or locate cancer in humans, but it can be used for other ailments as well.

Exploratory surgery and cancer
Sometimes, cancer "hides" in a place where standard tests can't detect it. In this case, doctors must go into surgery and look for the cancerous mass manually. This procedure, which is what is commonly associated with exploratory surgery, is not used for treatment at all. Instead, it is used chiefly to identify the location of the tumor and the extent of its damage. If a tumor is found, a biopsy is performed and tests are run to see what type of cancer was found.

Exploratory surgery in animals
Because animals can't voice their symptoms as easily as humans, exploratory surgery is more common in animals. Exploratory surgery is done when an animal may have ingested a foreign body that is lodged in their body, when looking for cancer, or when looking for various other gastrointestinal problems. It is a fairly routine procedure that is done only after tests and bloodwork reveal nothing abnormal.