Hodgkin's disease presenting as steroid-responsive pancytopenia.

In the case reported here the patient presented with Stage IVB mixed cellularity Hodgkin's disease was complicated by massive splenomegaly, bone marrow infiltration with Hodgkin's disease, and severe pancytopenia. The pancytopenia was reversed by glucocorticosteroid therapy but recurred when steroids were tapered. Reinstitution of steroids resulted in recovery of peripheral blood counts, allowing administration of full-dose combination chemotherapy leading to a complete clinical remission and obviating the need for emergency splenectomy.