A critique of the value of laparotomy and splenectomy in the evaluation of patients with Hodgkin's disease.

procedure is to provide accurate assessment of involvement of the spleen. Although rare, in unselected untreated patients, liver involvement cannot be accurately determined without histological confirmation. Minor advantages of the procedure include supplementary information concerning the status of abdominal lymph nodes and facilitation of radiotherapy programs and possibly of chemotherapy programs. Other than as an investigative approach, the major value of the surgical procedure is to provide better diagnostic information, primarily concerning the spleen, and this is of value primarily if decisions regarding therapy are dependent on the demonstration of splenic involvement.