Staging laparotomy in Hodgkin's disease.
In a series of 34 consecutive staging laparotomies for Hodgkin's disease, unsuspected disease was discovered below the diaphragm in four cases (11,8%). The clinical staging was changed in 11 cases (32,4%). These data correspond to the results in most large series. Since staging laparotomy can be performed with minimal morbidity and gives the clinician the information essential to a rational plan of therapy, it is suggested that staging be performed prior to initiation of treatment in all patients with Hodgkin's disease not clinically proven to be disseminated.
D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007813:Laparotomy; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D013158:Splenic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis