Gastric MALT lymphoma

What it is

Gastric lymphoma is 5% of all primary gastric cancer, and the primary one is MALT lymphoma. MALT stands for mucosal associated lymphoid tissue. The most common type is B cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. MALT lymphoma is a low grade type of lymphoma and it is frequently associated with the presence of H. pylori infection, which may cause lymphatic changes.

How it presents

The patient is elderly, the age given is 65, and the symptoms mimic gastritis. B symptoms are part of the presentation, and recurrence of RTI is also listed. The association with H. pylori infection is described as strong.

How it is diagnosed

The investigations are a CT scan with contrast and endoscopy with biopsy. On endoscopy the finding is a bleeding mass; on CT the finding is thickening of the stomach wall.

Eradication testing with the urea breath test or the stool antigen test is indicated in H. pylori associated MALT lymphoma. Where indicated, that eradication testing should be performed at least four weeks after completion of therapy.