[Analysis of 37 pathological and clinic data of extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT)].

OBJECTIVE: To provide pathological and clinical evidences in order to establish standardized diagnosis and treatment for MALT lymphoma.

METHODS: Pathological characters, grade, stage, prognostic factors and treatment of 37 cases of MALT lymphoma were analyzed which were diagnosed from January 2000 to June 2002.

RESULTS: The 39 patients(8.82%) were diagnosed as MALT lymphoma out of 442 NHL patients(37 patients were followed up, and two missing). Median age was 52 years. The percentage of patients older than 50 was 63.6%. The marjority of tumors were found in stomach, intestinal, thyroid, parotid gland, orbit and lung. Among 28 (71.8%) of 37 patients with gastro-intestinal(GI) Maltoma, low-grade was 70.3%, median-grade 27.0%, stage I 53.6%, stage II 28.6%, stage III 14.3%, and stage IV 3.6%. Of phenotype 35 cases were CD20 positive, and 4 cases were diagnosed as MALT lymphoma supported by PCR detecting IgH re-arrangement. Among 13 patients with gastric MALToma, 46.15% were helicobacter pylori (HP) positive. Patients with GI MALT lymphoma received 3-cycle antibiotic treatment. Most of GI patients received surgical operations. Most of patients received chemotherapy, with 4 plus local radiotherapy. Only one patient received antibiotic treatment alone. No one received radiation treatment alone.

CONCLUSION: MALT lymphoma was often seen in older patients, most of whom were in low-grade with slow disease progression. The site, grade, stage and molecular genetic change are important prognostic factors, which can help us to make decision in choosing suitable treatment.