Evaluation and Complications of 107 Staging Laparotomies for Hodgkinʼs Disease

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Abstract
From 1971-1975, 107 staging laparotomies for Hodgkin''s disease were performed at the University of Wisconsin Hospitals [USA]. Of patients with abnormal abdominal lymphangiograms preoperatively, 41% had abdominal nodes which were negative for Hodgkin''s. Of patients with negative preoperative lymphangiograms, 13% had positive nodes at staging laparotomy. Twenty-nine percent were upstaged by laparotomy, i.e., assigned to a less favorable stage (II A to III A) and 11.2% were downstaged. There were no surgical mortalities. Minor surgical complications occurred in 14.9%, and major ones in 3.7%. Surgical staging for Hodgkin''s disease is valuable in making an accurate diagnosis and, hence, in determining the most effective treatment.