Splenectomy for hematologic disease

Splenectomy has a major role in the treatment of hematologic diseases. Although it is rarely curative, splenectomy removes the site of the destruction or sequestration of erythrocytes, leukocytes, and platelets. Destruction occurs in such diseases as hemolytic anemia and ITP, whereas sequestration occurs as an idiopathic disease or secondary to a host of other diseases described above. Splenectomy is also indicated for symptomatic splenomegaly associated with leukemia, lymphoma, or myeloproliferative disorders. It is palliative, increasing the comfort of the patient by removing a massive spleen. Splenectomy also serves as a staging tool in lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease, and NHL, although it is much more beneficial in Hodgkin's disease, owing simply to stage at presentation. Splenectomy can be performed safely with minimal risk in most patients, but certain diseases carry increased risks of fatality and complications. Such diseases include leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloproliferative disorders, but even in these, splenectomy may be indicated in a select group of patients. The decision to perform splenectomy should therefore be made individually in these cases. Because it can be palliative in some cases, splenectomy can play a role in patient management, even though it may not alter survival.