Primary gastro-intestinal lymphoma

Fourty one cases of primary GIT lymphomas were studied, Age ranged from 3- 81 years. The most common presentations were abdominal pain [88%]; abdominal mass [43%], loss of weight [36%] and intestinal obstruction, [22%]. Bleeding occurs only in 10% of the cases. Thirty four cases were managed by resection, seven cases biopsy was taken only as these cases either mesentric or inoperable lymphoma of the rectum. All cases had postoperative local or regional radiotherapy for [IE] or chemotherapy and local radiotherapy for [II E] or [III E]. The 41 primary GIT lymphomas were composed of 18 [44%] small intestine, 8 [19%] gastric, 5 [12%] ileocaecal; 4 [10%] colo-rectal and 6 [15%] mesentric. The commonest type was the diffuse histiocytic lymphoma 20 cases [49%] then the diffuse undifferentiated lymphocytic lymphoma 12 cases [29%] and the diffuse well differentiated lymphocytic lymphoma 3 cases [7. 5%]. Only 3 cases [7. 5%] displayed a nodular pattern. Burkitt's lymphoma was diagnosed in 3 cases