An evaluation of the staging laparotomy in Hodgkin's disease.

A retrospective study was done on 33 patients who had staging laparotomies for Hodgkin's disease. The operation resulted in a significant change of stage in only four of the 33 patients (12%). We present opinions from authors supporting our belief that routine use of this procedure is not justified. Patients in stage I or II for whom limited radiotherapy is planned may benefit from the staging laparotomy. However, even some of these patients can be adequately treated with use of information from clinical staging only.