Hypersplenism in Hodgkin's disease: a report of three cases presenting with cytopenias.

A review of the last seventy-eight consecutive cases of Hodgkin's disease seen at our hospital revealed that two presented several hematologic cytopenias. These two cases and a similar case first seen at an associated hospital revealed pancytopenia in two and leukopenia in the third. All responded to splenectomy with hematologic improvement. All met the criteria for hypersplenism. This report illustrates that Hodgkin's disease can present cytopenias due to hypersplenism, and that early splenectomy can lead to hematologic improvement and tolerance of subsequent chemotherapy.