MALT lymphoma: epidemiology, clinical diagnosis and treatment

Abstract

Primary gastric lymphoma (PGL) represents a rare pathology, which can be easily misdiagnosed because of unspecific symptoms of the digestive tract. Histologically, PGL can vary from indolent marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) to aggressive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). During the years, clinical trials revealed the important role of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) in the pathogenesis of gastric MALT lymphoma. Infection with Helicobacter pylori is an influential promoter of gastric lymphomagenesis initiation. Long-term studies revealed that eradication therapy could regress gastric lymphomas.

Keywords: BID – Twice daily; CT – Computer tomography; CagA protein – Cytotoxin-associated gene A protein; DLBCL – Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma; EBV – Epstein-Barr Virus; EUS – Endoscopic ultrasonography; HIV – Human immunodeficiency virus; HP – Helicobacter pylori; Helicobacter pylori; MALT – Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue; NF-κB – Nuclear factor kappa B; NHL – Non-Hodgkin lymphomas; PET – Positron emission tomography; PGL – Primary gastric lymphoma; PPI – Proton-pump inhibitor; QD – Once daily; QID – Four times daily; TID – Three times daily; TLR4 – Toll-like receptor 4; diffuse large B-cell lymphoma; gastric lymphoma; mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma.

Figure 1:

Endoscopic Ultrasonography Staging of Gastric MALT Lymphoma[37]