Clinical Analysis of 39 Cases of Gastric Mucosa-associated Lymphoid Tissue Lymphoma

Gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma is a relatively rare malignancy of stomach, which has particular characteristics of etiology, histopathology and clinical biological behavior. Aims: To improve the awareness of diagnosis and treatment of gastric MALT lymphoma. Methods: The clinical, endoscopic and histopathologieal characteristics, therapeutic regimens and follow-up outcomes of 39 cases of gastric MALT lymphoma were analyzed retrospectively. Results: Gastric MALT lymphoma patients in this group lacked specific clinical manifestations, while upper abdominal pain was commonly present. The lesions were mainly located in the antrum and body, ulceration being the most common finding under endoscopy. Immunohistochemical labeling of biopsy specimens obtained from 18 patients showed expressions of LCA~+ CD20~+ CD79α~+ CD3~- CD43~- CD45RO~- in most cases; 16 were B-cell origin and 2 were T-cell origin. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication, surgery, chemotherapy and surgery combined with chemotherapy were used to treat patients with gastric MALT lymphoma. The follow-up outcomes showed that most of them had good prognosis. Conclusions: Gastric MALT lymphoma can be detected during early stage by endoscopy and definitely diagnosed by pathology and immunohistochemistry. H. pylori eradication, surgery and chemotherapy can offer well clinical effect.