Objective To improve the diagnostic rate of laparoscopy for malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (MPM) and enhance acquaintance with this disease. Methods The appearance of laparoscopic detection was retrospectively analysed in 25 patients with pathologically proved MPM. Results Hyperemia, edema and faint vascular net in parietal peritoneum were seen in all patients, and the thick or thin callus-like thickened parietal peritoneum was also observed. There were some grey nodes of various size, distribution and number in parietal and visceral peritoneum in all patients. The purplish red masses with hyperemia and edema were seen in abdominal cavity in 21 patients (21/25,84%). Several small masses cold be connected each other to become one big mass. All patients had yellow turbid or bloody ascites. Conclusion MPM had special characteristics under laparoscopy. Laparoscopic detection possesses the advantages of safety, little trauma, less hurt and high diagnostic rate. Laparoscopic detection and biopsy may be the best method for diagnosis of MPM.