Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma—The surgeon's role in therapy

The role of surgery in the management of Hodgkin's disease

“…However, both in the present series and in others (Mitchell et al, 1972) there were patients in these groups who did have occult abdominal disease. Similarly, the suggestion that patients with nodal disease apparently confined to the right side of the neck are unlikely to have abdominal involvement (Trueblood et al, 1972) is not substantiated by findings in the present series. Further studies are necessary before any patients with apparently localized disease can be confidently excluded from the present policy.…”

“…Hodgkin's disease may be defined as a progressive malignant neoplasm of lymphoid tissue which appears to arise in a single focus and usually spreads along connecting lymphatic pathways, ultimately metastasizing to non-lymphoid organs (Trueblood et a]., 1972). Although the aetiology of the disease is unknown, its frequent association with fevers, granulomas and altered immunological responses, together with some evidence of an increased incidence within some communities, keeps alive the speculation not only over an underlying infective trigger mechanism but also an underlying immune system defect.…”