Partial splenectomy for staging Hodgkin's disease: risk of false-negative results.

Abstract

POSTSPLENECTOMY septicemia is a well established late complication of splenectomy.1 Staging laparotomy with splenectomy for Hodgkin's disease has been an accepted practice for several years, and the risk of postsplenectomy sepsis for these patients is beginning to be defined.2 3 4 5 For children, the risk may range from less than 1 per cent to 10 per cent,2 , 3 whereas for older patients, the risk is substantially less.4 Postsplenectomy septicemia in children has carried a mortality rate as high as 50 per cent.1 The value of splenectomy in staging pediatric Hodgkin's disease must be balanced against these risks. Partial splenectomy has been proposed as . . .