Staging laparotomy in Hodgkin's disease

In a series of 34 consecutive staging laparotomies for Hodgkin's disease, unsuspected disease was discovered below the diaphragm in four cases (11,8%). The clinical staging was changed in 11 cases (32,4%). These data correspond to the results in most large series. Since staging laparotomy can be performed with minimal morbidity and gives the clinician the information essential to a rational plan of therapy, it is suggested that staging be performed prior to initiation of treatment in all patients with Hodgkin's disease not clinically proven to be disseminated.