What is a significant advantage of laparoscopic surgery compared to traditional surgery?

Laparoscopic surgery offers a significant advantage in that it is less invasive compared to traditional open surgery, which typically involves larger incisions and more disruption to the body's tissues. This minimally invasive approach allows for smaller incisions, which in turn leads to reduced pain and a lower risk of complications. As a result, patients who undergo laparoscopic procedures often experience faster recovery times, enabling them to return to their normal activities sooner than they might after traditional surgery.

This advantage is particularly beneficial in the context of oncology, where prompt recovery can be crucial for continued treatment pathways or monitoring. Additionally, the reduced trauma associated with laparoscopic techniques may lead to shorter hospital stays, further enhancing the overall patient experience and efficiency of healthcare delivery.

In other options, higher costs and longer hospital stays directly contradict the benefits typically associated with laparoscopic techniques, while the limitation to small tumors does not reflect the varied applications of this surgical method in treating different tumor sizes and types.