BACKGROUND: Low grade mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphomas usually are confined to single extranodal organs. Although some case reports have been published, clinicopathologic characteristics of multiorgan MALT lymphomas remain unclear. METHODS: The authors evaluated 7 MALT lymphoma cases involving multiorgans in the past 7 years. In this period, they experienced 304 cases of MALT lymphomas. They analyzed the clinicopathologic features of these cases, including examination of clonal comparison among the lesions. RESULTS: The patients, 4 females and 3 males, were aged 55-68 years old (average, 60.1 years). Four cases showed multiple organ involvement at the initial diagnosis or after a short period. In the other three cases, primary foci were the stomach, thyroid gland, and ocular adnexa; after a rather long period (3 years or more), distant metastases were found. Although intestinal primary lymphomas are rather rare, six of the seven cases showed large intestinal involvement. Lymph node involvement was proven in only three cases. The patients were rather resistant to the various therapeutic approaches. Although six patients are alive, five are with disease. DNA analyses revealed that in five of the cases evaluated, identical clones were detected among the different affected organs. CONCLUSIONS: Multiorgan MALT lymphomas are rather rare. Most cases probably derived from a single clone, and lymphoma cells may selectively move among MALTs via a homing system with preferential involvement of the colon. Because multiorgan MALT lymphomas rarely achieve complete remission by treatment with combination chemotherapy or irradiation, MALT lymphomatous lesions should be checked carefully, especially in the large intestine.
BACKGROUND: Low grade mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphomas usually are confined to single extranodal organs. Although some case reports have been published, clinicopathologic characteristics of multiorgan MALT lymphomas remain unclear. METHODS: The authors evaluated 7 MALT lymphoma cases involving multiorgans in the past 7 years. In this period, they experienced 304 cases of MALT lymphomas. They analyzed the clinicopathologic features of these cases, including examination of clonal comparison among the lesions. RESULTS: The patients, 4 females and 3 males, were aged 55-68 years old (average, 60.1 years). Four cases showed multiple organ involvement at the initial diagnosis or after a short period. In the other three cases, primary foci were the stomach, thyroid gland, and ocular adnexa; after a rather long period (3 years or more), distant metastases were found. Although intestinal primary lymphomas are rather rare, six of the seven cases showed large intestinal involvement. Lymph node involvement was proven in only three cases. The patients were rather resistant to the various therapeutic approaches. Although six patients are alive, five are with disease. DNA analyses revealed that in five of the cases evaluated, identical clones were detected among the different affected organs. CONCLUSIONS: Multiorgan MALT lymphomas are rather rare. Most cases probably derived from a single clone, and lymphoma cells may selectively move among MALTs via a homing system with preferential involvement of the colon. Because multiorgan MALT lymphomas rarely achieve complete remission by treatment with combination chemotherapy or irradiation, MALT lymphomatous lesions should be checked carefully, especially in the large intestine.
Authors: Sung Yong Oh; Won Seog Kim; Jin Seok Kim; Seok Jin Kim; Suee Lee; Dae Ho Lee; Jong-Ho Won; In Gyu Hwang; Min Kyoung Kim; Soon Il Lee; Yee Soo Chae; Deok-Hwan Yang; Hye Jin Kang; Chul Won Choi; Jinny Park; Hyo Jung Kim; Jung Hye Kwon; Ho Sup Lee; Gyeong-Won Lee; Hyeon Seok Eom; Jae-Yong Kwak; Won Sik Lee; Cheolwon Suh; Hyo-Jin Kim Journal: Int J Hematol Date: 2010-09-14 Impact factor: 2.490