Splenectomy for haematological cytopenias in patients with malignant lymphomas

Haematological cytopenias caused by increased splenic activity occurred in 86 patients with malignant lymphomas (50 patients with stage III or IV Hodgkin disease [H.D.] and 36 with non-Hodgkin lymphomas). Splenectomy was performed in 84 of these 86 patients. There was complete or partial correction of the haematological defect in 90% of the H.D. patients and 89% of the non-Hodgkin patients. Chemotherapy or radiotherapy was started after the haematological defect had been corrected by splenectomy, and as a result 79% of the H.D. patients and 75% of the non-Hodgkin patients had a complete or partial remission of their disease. Increased splenic activity should be considered as a cause of a haematological cytopenia in patients with malignant lymphomas even in those with bone-marrow involvement, since splenectomy is accompanied by excellent results in terms of disease remission with subsequent therapy. 2 patients with H.D. (4%) and 5 with non-Hodgkin lymphomas (14%) died in hospital after splenectomy. Thus the operation was associated with acceptable mortality and morbidity despite the advanced stage of disease in most cases.