Gastric MALT lymphoma: a rarity

ABSTRACT

Association of Helicobacter pylori [H.Pylori] infection with gastric 'Mucosa Associated Lymphoid Tissue' [MALT] lymphomas [MALTomas] is well established. In this study the frequency and characteristics of gastric MALToma over a period of 18 years was evaluated. During this period 24 patients with gastric MALToma were diagnosed; out of them, 13 [54.2%] had active H.Pylori infection. The mean and median age was 49.7 and 53.5 years. The male female ratio was 177. The common presenting complaints were epigastric pain [n=10] and dyspepsia [n=9]. Endoscopic findings revealed mild gastric hyperemia [n=16], superficial erosions [n=4] and superficial ulcers [n=4]. It was concluded that the prevalence of gastric MALToma was very low in contrast to a high H. pylori gastritis in the Pakistani population