Primary gastric lymphoma: a prospective analysis of 12 cases and review of the literature.

The clinicopathological features of 12 cases of primary lymphoma of the stomach are reviewed, and the efficacy of various treatment modalities is evaluated. The presenting symptomatology and the radiological signs were found to be similar to those of gastric carcinoma. Gastroscopy and computed tomography (CT) proved to be effective diagnostic and staging tools. There were two patients of stage I, seven patients of stage II, and three patients of stage IV. Multimodal therapy involving judiciously combined surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy produced early complete remission in all the nine patients with localized disease, and all of them are disease-free at a minimum follow-up period of 12 months. These results are irrespective of whether surgery formed part of the treatment regimen. The relevant literature is reviewed, and the present status of the efficacy of nonsurgical therapy is evaluated.