Splenectomy for hypersplenism in malignant lymphomas

Splenectomy has been performed in advanced malignant lymphomas in an effect to correct haematological cytopaenias in 41 patients since 1975. In both Hodgkin's disease and a variety of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas the operation has been associated with a high percentage of haematological correction (90 per cent overall). In many of these patients the haematological defect had prevented or led to the cessation of treatment and in those cases where chemotherapy was resumed after splenectomy worthwhile remission was achieved in 87.5 per cent of patients. There was no postoperative deaths and morbidity was considered acceptably low. We conclude that splenectomy is a valuable adjunct to treatment in advanced malignant lymphomas and should be considered at the first suggestion of splenic overactivity and reduced bone marrow reserves.