The place of staging laparotomy in the management of Hodgkin's disease.

The results of laparotomy and splenectomy in 225 patients with Hodgkin's disease are presented. The investigation changed the staging of the disease in 35% of patients. It carried no mortality and a low morbidity. It is concluded that the procedure provides information unobtainable accurately by other means and that it should be carried out in adult patients of both sexes and all histological subgroups who have clinical Stage I and II disease.