title: Splenectomy for end-stage chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
abstract: Between February 1980 and December 1985, splenectomies were performed in 13 patients with advanced (Stage III and IV) chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Patients had advanced disease for a median of 32 months at the time of splenectomy and all were refractory to chemotherapy. All patients were anemic with a median hematocrit of 27.5%; nine patients were thrombocytopenic with a median platelet count of 46,000/microliter. There was no surgical mortality and minimal morbidity. Median hematocrit was 35% at 1 month and 6 months postsplenectomy. Median platelet count in previously thrombocytopenic patients was 261,000/microliter at 1 month and 177,000/microliter at 6 months postsplenectomy. Median survival postsplenectomy in this advanced patient group was 24 months with four patients surviving more than 30 months. Splenectomy is a valuable adjunct to the management of end-stage CLL.
mesh_terms: D000206:Actuarial Analysis; D000368:Aged; D000740:Anemia / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006400:Hematocrit; D006801:Humans; D007945:Leukemia, Lymphoid / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010976:Platelet Count; D013156:Splenectomy; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000601:surgery