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Review
. 2017 May 4:18:491-497.
doi: 10.12659/AJCR.902843.

Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue (MALT) Lymphoma of the Colon: A Case Report and a Literature Review

Affiliations
Review

Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue (MALT) Lymphoma of the Colon: A Case Report and a Literature Review

Hafsa Abbas et al. Am J Case Rep. .

Abstract

BACKGROUND Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is a well-known hematologic malignancy. The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is the most commonly involved extra nodal site. MALT lymphomas are uncommon, accounting for 5% of all NHL. Gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma is the prototype seen in association with Helicobacter pylori. Colonic MALT lymphoma is rare and comprises only 2.5% of the MALT lymphomas. Its etiology and treatment is not well established. CASE REPORT A 56-year-old Hispanic woman presented to the clinic with symptoms of chronic epigastric pain for the past three years and a 13-pound weight loss over the past two months. The patient did not have any prior medical conditions. Her systemic examination was unremarkable, while her routine labs revealed mild anemia. An upper endoscopy and colonoscopy for colorectal cancer screening were performed revealing erosive gastropathy with duodenal ulcers and a 5 cm broad based polypoid mass in the hepatic flexure respectively. Computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen revealed a round, well demarcated mass at the hepatic flexure of the colon. The histopathology and immunophenotyping were consistent with extra nodal marginal zone of MALT lymphoma. Stool testing for H. pylori was positive. The patient received two weeks of H. pylori eradication therapy and four cycles of rituximab. Repeat colonoscopy after completion of chemotherapy showed complete resolution of the MALT lymphoma. CONCLUSIONS Unlike gastric MALT lymphoma, treatment of colonic MALT lymphoma is not standardized. Chemotherapy and surgical resection have been utilized to successfully treat it. Only a handful of cases have reported successful treatment of colonic MALT lymphoma with rituximab monotherapy.

Keywords: Colonic Neoplasms; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms; Helicobacter pylori; Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: None declared

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Computed tomography (CT) of abdomen (horizontal view) showing a colonic mass at the hepatic flexure (size appreciated with the help of a ruler).
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Computed tomography (CT) of abdomen (coronal view) showing a colonic mass at the hepatic flexure (size appreciated with the help of a ruler).
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Colonoscopic image of hepatic flexure MALT lymphoma.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
MALT lymphoma involving colon. There is a diffuse infiltrate comprised of small to medium sized lymphocytes with monocytoid features and plasmacytoid cells.
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
Immunostain CD20 show strong positivity in lymphoma cells.
Figure 6.
Figure 6.
Computed tomography (CT) of abdomen (horizontal view) showing resolution of colonic mass at the hepatic flexure that was seen on previous imaging after completion of treatment with rituximab monotherapy.
Figure 7.
Figure 7.
Computed tomography (CT) of abdomen (coronal view) showing resolution of colonic mass at the hepatic flexure that was seen on previous imaging after completion of treatment with rituximab monotherapy.
Figure 8.
Figure 8.
Endoscopic appearance of hepatic flexure after rituximab therapy completion.

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