Efficacy of splenectomy for patients with mantle cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

The purpose of this study was to define the role of splenectomy in patients (pts) with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) with regard to improving cytopenias and symptoms of splenomegaly. 26 pts with MCL underwent splenectomy between January 1987 and October 1999 and were followed prospectively for hematologic response and operative morbidity and mortality. A positive response was defined at 1 month of follow-up as: a hemoglobin of > or = 1.0 g/dl in a pt with a preoperative value < 11.0 g/dl; or a platelet count of > or = 100 x 10(9)/L in a pt with a preoperative value < 100 x 10(9)/L. A positive hematologic response was achieved in 69.2% of pts with preoperative anemia, 90% with thrombocytopenia, and 50% with both anemia and thrombocytopenia. The peri- and post-operative morbidity were 3.8 and 19.2%, respectively, the operative mortality was 0%. The median duration of hospitalization was six days. Four (15.4%) pts have not required chemotherapy after splenectomy. Three of these four were previously untreated and they have maintained stable disease for eight years after splenectomy without chemotherapy. Eight additional pts did not require chemotherapy for > 13 months after splenectomy. These results suggest that splenectomy may provide durable remission in selected pts with refractory cytopenias or symptoms related to splenomegaly in pts with MCL. There is a subset of pts that have prolonged disease stabilization without the requirement for immediate chemotherapy after splenectomy.