Case history
Case history
A 53-year-old woman initially presents to her primary care physician with a 12-month history of postprandial epigastric discomfort associated with minimal weight loss. She does not report any fevers, chills, or sweats, and exam reveals no lymphadenopathy or splenomegaly. When simple measures fail to improve her symptoms, the physician treats her for gastroesophageal reflux disease and commences acid-suppression therapy. Despite this, her discomfort continues and she is eventually referred for gastrointestinal endoscopy, which identifies a large mass in the antrum of the stomach.
Other presentations
The symptoms and signs of MALT lymphoma depend on the extranodal site involved. Patients often have a history of Helicobacter pylori gastritis, autoimmune disease, or chronic infection. See Etiology.
In addition to the stomach, sites that are commonly affected include the ocular adnexa, lung, and salivary/parotid glands.[6] Sites that are less commonly affected include the skin, intestinal tract, thyroid, breasts, dura, and genitourinary tract.[7]
Approximately 25% of patients with nongastric MALT lymphoma present with disseminated disease (including advanced-stage disease).[8]
Use of this content is subject to our disclaimer