Splenectomies were performed on 142 patients (86 men and 56 women). The majority of them (117) were stages III or IV. The purpose of the laparotomy was therapeutic and not exploratory. Surgery was indicated, either due to evolution of the disease suggesting splenic involvement or to symptoms of hypersplenism. Splenic involvement was confirmed in 71% and hepatic involvement in 40%. Despite the risk of mortality during the first month after surgery, proportional to the extent of the disease, the overall results are encouraging provided that surgical intervention is followed by aggressive polychemotherapy. Serious infections were observed, however, in 9 patients; they did not occur for several months or even several years after splenectomy.