Staging laparotomy with splenectomy in Hodgkin's disease
Poulsen, H.; Bengmark, S.; Börjesson, B.; Flodgren, P.; Kallum, B.; Landberg, T.
Acta Chirurgica Scandinavica 143(6): 347-352
1977
ISSN/ISBN: 0001-5482 PMID: 605734 Document Number: 118082
The series includes 91 patients with Hodgkin's disease who underwent a staging laparotomy with splenectomy during the years 1971-1976, in 82% of them as part of the initial evaluation before therapy. Positive abdominal lymph nodes were found in 29% of the patients, a positive spleen in 37%, and a positive liver in 10%. Follow-up of patients who lacked abdominal involvement at laparotomy indicate that sampling error was only of marginal importance. Evaluation of the therapeutic implications of the operation indicated that 41% of the patients benefited from the procedure; 31% by changing stage and 10% by changing radiation therapy port. Five patients had minor surgical complications. The mortality rate was nil.