Non-Hodgkin lymphoma of the stomach: a cause of linitis plastica.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

To demonstrate the radiologic appearance of linitis plastica in non-Hodgkin lymphoma of the stomach and to correlate radiologic and pathologic findings.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Of 34 cases of non-Hodgkin lymphoma of the stomach in the radiologic archives of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, nine had a linitis plastica appearance at barium study. The radiologic, endoscopic, and pathologic findings of these cases were reviewed.

RESULTS:

All nine patients (six with primary gastric lymphoma, three with generalized lymphoma with stomach involvement) were symptomatic. Images from barium studies revealed a linitis plastica appearance with narrowing of the gastric antrum and/or body (n = 5), narrowing of the body and/or fundus (n = 3), and diffuse gastric narrowing (n = 1). On CT scans (n = 7), marked circumferential soft-tissue thickening (average thickness, 2.9 cm) of the gastric wall was seen. Patients were treated with subtotal gastrectomy and gastrojejunostomy (n = 5) or total gastrectomy and esophagojejunostomy (n = 4). In all cases, histopathologic specimens revealed a thickened gastric wall with lymphomatous cell infiltration. Wall thickening was associated with areas of fibrosis in only one case.

CONCLUSION:

Non-Hodgkin gastric lymphoma should be recognized as another cause of linitis plastica, especially in patients with a history of lymphoma or evidence of generalized lymphoma at presentation.

• Authors: M S Levine, L Pantongrag-Brown, N S Aguilera, J L Buck, P C Buetow
• Journal: Radiology (Radiology) Vol. 201 Issue 2 Pg. 375-8 (Nov 1996) ISSN: 0033-8419 [Print] United States
• PMID: 8888226 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Female
• Humans
• Linitis Plastica (diagnostic imaging)
• Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin (diagnostic imaging, pathology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Radiography
• Stomach (diagnostic imaging)
• Stomach Neoplasms (diagnostic imaging, pathology)