Our findings suggest that MALT lymphoma frequently presents as a multifocal disease. Extragastric MALT lymphomas are significantly more prone to dissemination than gastric MALT lymphomas.
Background: B-cell lymphoma of the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT lymphoma) is thought to be an indolent disease, with a good prognosis following various forms of treatment. Little, however, is known about the rate and pattern of relapse following successful treatment. Patients and Methods: We have analyzed time to and pattern of relapse in patients with MALT lymphoma, along with investigation of t(11;18)(q21;q21), t(1;14)(p22;q32), and t(14;18)(q32;q21) involving IGH/MALT1, trisomy 3, and trisomy 18. Eighty-six patients achieving complete remission (CR) after initial therapy with sufficient follow-up data were available. Primary site of disease was the stomach (n = 36), salivary gland (n = 19), ocular adnexa/orbit (n = 12), lung (n = 8), thyroid (n = 5), breast (n = 3), liver (n = 2), and skin (n = 1). Results: Thirty-two patients (37%) relapsed between 14 and 307 months (median 47 months) after initial CR. Ten relapses were local, whereas the remaining patients relapsed in a distant organ. Eight of 36 gastric versus 24 of 50 nongastric MALT lymphomas (P = 0.02) relapsed. Five patients had a second recurrence 26 to 56 months after a second CR. Relapse rates were not related to forms of initial treatment. Chromosomal aberrations were detected in 14 of 28 (50%) relapsing patients, and chromosomal alterations were identical at diagnosis and relapse. No significant association of any of the genetic changes investigated with relapse was found. Interestingly, patients with t(11;18)(q21;q21) had a significantly longer median time to relapse (76 months) than patients without this translocation (29 months; P = 0.012). Conclusions: In view of the late relapses seen in our series, lifelong observation of all patients treated for MALT lymphoma seems to be required.
Adenocarcinoma is the most common malignant pancreatic tumor, affecting the head of the pancreas in 60-70% of cases. By the time of diagnosis, at least 80% of tumors are unresectable. Helical computed tomography (CT) is very effective in detecting and staging adenocarcinoma, with a sensitivity of up to 90% for detection and an accuracy of 80-90% for staging, but it has limitations in detecting small cancers. Moreover, it is not very accurate for determining nonresectability because small liver metastases, peritoneal carcinomatosis, and subtle signs of vascular infiltration may be missed. Multidetector-row CT (MDCT) has brought substantial improvements with its inherent ability to visualize vascular involvement in three dimensions. MDCT has been found to be at least equivalent to contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for detecting adenocarcinoma. MRI can be used as a problem-solving tool in equivocal CT: MRI may help rule out pitfalls, such as inflammatory pseudotumor, focal lipomatosis, abscess, or cystic tumors. Mangafodipir-enhanced MRI reveals a very high tumor-pancreas contrast, which helps in diagnosing small cancers. Endosonography is, if available, also a very accurate tool for detecting small cancers, with a sensitivity of up to 98%. It is the technique of choice for image-guided biopsy if a histologic diagnosis is required for further therapy.
HCTE is an accurate technique to detect mural and extramural abnormalities in patients with Crohn disease. HCTE should be considered as a complementary imaging method to endoscopy, and should be the first imaging method especially when Crohn-associated complications are suspected.
In our series, HP-eradication was ineffective for treatment of extragastric MALT lymphomas. This finding, along with an infection rate of 45%-as could also be expected in the general Austrian population-suggests that HP does not play a role in the development of these lymphomas. Antibiotic treatment targeting HP should, therefore, be discouraged in patients with extragastric MALT lymphomas.
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