Helicobacter pylori-Negative Primary Rectal MALT Lymphoma: Complete Remission after Radiotherapy.

Abstract

Rectal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma is a rare condition. Although the majority of patients undergo surgical resection, a definitive treatment for rectal MALT lymphoma has not yet been established. In the present study, we report the outcome of radiotherapy in 3 patients with rectal MALT lymphoma. Our cohort ranged from 56 to 65 years of age. The male/female ratio was 1:2, and all patients were in stage I (Lugano classification) of the disease. Endoscopic findings revealed elevated lesions resembling submucosal tumors in 2 patients, and a sessile elevated lesion with a nodular surface in 1 patient. One of the 3 patients underwent magnifying endoscopy with crystal violet staining that demonstrated a type I pit pattern (Kudo's classification) lesion with a broad intervening area caused by the upthrust of the tumor from the submucosa. All patients tolerated radiotherapy at doses of 30 Gy without major complications and achieved complete remission. Follow-up ranged from 13 to 75 months (mean 51.0 months), revealing no recurrence of MALT lymphoma. As such, we propose radiotherapy to be a safe and effective means for treating rectal MALT lymphoma.

• Authors: Takuma Okamura, Tomoaki Suga, Yugo Iwaya, Tetsuya Ito, Shuichi Yokosawa, Norikazu Arakura, Hiroyoshi Ota, Eiji Tanaka
• Journal: Case reports in gastroenterology (Case Rep Gastroenterol) Vol. 6 Issue 2 Pg. 319-27 (May 2012) ISSN: 1662-0631 [Electronic] Switzerland
• PMID: 22754493 (Publication Type: Case Reports)