Editorial: The Role of Endoscopy in the Diagnosis and Follow-up of Low-Grade Gastric Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue Lymphoma

Low-grade gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma is a rare gastric neoplasia that arises from mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue. Histologic criteria for diagnosing this neoplasia have been defined, as has the key role of Helicobacter pylori in its origin. Endoscopic aspects of low-grade MALT-lymphoma vary considerably in diagnosis and follow-up, ranging from normal-appearing mucosa to obviously malignant lesions, and thus they have a low diagnostic value. Because an earlier diagnosis of low-grade MALT-lymphoma is now possible through such sophisticated techniques as the polymerase chain reaction, low-grade MALT-lymphoma will be diagnosed in the future more frequently with minimal macroscopic lesions or even without them.