How is gastric MALT lymphoma treated?
The most commonly used regimen comprises a PPI associated with clarithromycin and amoxicillin, administered for 10 to 14 days. Metronidazole can be used instead of amoxicillin for penicillin-allergic patients. H pylori eradication with antibiotics leads to gastric MALT lymphoma regression in 75% of cases.
What is gastric MALT?
Gastric (MALT) lymphoma is a form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that arises from tissue that forms the lining of the stomach, the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT). 1 Because gastric MALT lymphoma usually is caused by Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacteria, it often can be treated successfully with antibiotics.
What causes stomach lymphoma?
In the case of gastrointestinal lymphoma, cancer-causing mutations are often spurred by bacterial or viral infections, especially Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infections. About 90 percent of MALT lymphomas in the stomach are linked to a chronic H. pylori infection, according to NORD.
Is gastric MALT lymphoma curable?
Regression of gastric MALT lymphoma can be done in the early stages of the disease by eradication therapy. The majority of cases with MALT lymphoma are cured by eradication therapy, but there are cases that need to be treated with rituximab alone or in combination with other drugs.
How is gastric MALT lymphoma diagnosed?
Diagnosis and staging of MALT lymphoma. MALT lymphoma is usually diagnosed by removing a sample of tissue and looking at it under a microscope. This involves a small operation called a biopsy, which is usually done under a local anaesthetic. The biopsy sample is examined by an expert lymphoma pathologist.
What are the symptoms of gastric MALT lymphoma?
Gastric MALT lymphomas may present with dyspepsia. Nonspecific symptoms include fatigue, low-grade fever, nausea, constipation, weight loss and anaemia. Recurrent respiratory tract infections. Orbital MALT lymphomas may present with blurred vision and visual field defects.
Can gastritis cause MALT lymphoma?
H. pylori infection of the stomach is considered a major cause of chronic active gastritis and a major risk factor for gastric MALT lymphoma.
Is abdominal lymphoma curable?
Cure is rare. Treatment is predominately handled by oncologists, but these patients will likely first present to their primary care physicians. Symptoms can be subtle at times, so it is essential to be able to recognize them to provide the patient with timely treatment.
What is the life expectancy of lymphoma patients?
The overall 5-year relative survival rate for people with NHL is 73%. But it’s important to keep in mind that survival rates can vary widely for different types and stages of lymphoma….Follicular lymphoma.
| SEER Stage | 5-Year Relative Survival Rate |
|---|---|
| Regional | 91% |
| Distant | 86% |
| All SEER stages combined | 90% |
Where is MALT lymphoma located?
MALT lymphoma starts in the B cells, so it is a B cell lymphoma. These low grade (indolent) lymphomas are most often diagnosed in the stomach (called gastric MALT). But they can also develop in the lung, thyroid, salivary glands, eye, skin or soft tissues (called non gastric MALT). MALT lymphoma usually grows slowly.
How is gastric lymphoma diagnosed?
Gastric lymphoma is most commonly found in the gastric antrum, and the gold standard for diagnosis is upper endoscopy with biopsies, tissue analysis by trained pathologists, and immunohistochemistry.
How do you test for MALT lymphoma?
These procedures include a complete physical examination, laboratory tests (blood count, renal and liver test, lactate dehydrogenase and β2-microglobulin), imaging tests and also a bone marrow biopsy. Almost 10% of low-grade MALT lymphoma are in advanced stages (III-IV) and require anti-neoplastic therapy [22].
Can H. pylori cause MALT lymphoma?
In more than 90% of cases, MALT lymphoma is associated with H pylori infection. Prior H pylori infection is therefore a pre-MALT lymphoma condition. In animal experiments MALT lymphomas can be induced by H pylori infection. H pylori eradication alone can lead to complete remission of the MALT lymphoma.
What are the symptoms of gastric lymphoma?
Clinical Findings Gastric lymphoma occurs more frequently in men than in women, and the average age at the time of diagnosis is 55 to 60 years. Patients with advanced lesions may present with abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, anorexia, weight loss, a palpable epigastric mass, or signs of upper GI bleeding.
What are the diagnostic options for gastric MALT lymphoma (MALT)?
A diagnosis of gastric MALT lymphoma requires an endoscopic biopsy. Biopsy through fine needle aspiration (FNA) is not considered adequate.
What is the difference between malt and DLBCL gastric lymphoma?
It is important to mention that MALT lymphomas are low-grade lesions and DLBCL gastric lymphomas are high-grade and more common than the first one [3]. Treatment is different for these two pathologies. The incidence of developing PGL is 2–3 times higher in males than in females [4].
What is the role of Helicobacter pylori in the pathogenesis of MALT lymphoma?
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.
What are the different types of MALT lymphoma?
MALT lymphomas are divided into two broad categories: gastric MALT lymphoma and non-gastric MALT lymphoma. This article will address the first of these, gastric MALT lymphoma, or lymphomas that affect the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.