[Laparosplenectomy in 104 cases of Hodgkin's disease]

A series of 104 laparosplenectomies for Hodgkin's disease was carried out over a period of 4 years. Splenectomy was considered indicated in all cases observed, independently of the clinical situation; preference was, however, reserved to patients in whom the disease was just at the beginning and not yet treated. In such patients, the purpose of the intervention was to pinpoint the degree of development of the disease which would then dictate the chemo-radiological therapeutic protocol. The theoretical bases of the method are illustrated along with its aims and the simple technical features of the surgery. Intraoperative findings are discussed and compared with previous clinical and radiological data, and immediate results are reported.