A Case of Primary Gastric ALK-Positive Anaplastic Large-Cell Lymphoma / 대한내과학회지

ABSTRACT

Anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (ALCL) is a rare subgroup of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Primary gastric ALCL is extremely rare. Patients with anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive primary systemic ALCL are known to have better overall survival than those with ALK-negative ALCL. We herein report a case of primary gastric ALK-positive anaplastic large-cell lymphoma. A 37-year-old woman presented with postprandial epigastric pain for 2 months. Endoscopic examination of the upper gastrointestinal tract showed multiple variably sized, round, elevated lesions with friable crater-erosion on the body and fundus. Pathologic examination revealed atypical large lymphoid cell infiltration in the lamina propria; the cells were positive for CD3, CD30, and ALK. We diagnosed the patient with ALCL. She underwent a cycle of chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, adriamycin, vincristine, and prednisolone. However, she developed brain metastases. Despite two cycles of palliative chemotherapy with high-dose methotrexate for brain metastases, she died due to ALCL progression.