A CASE OF EARLY GASTRIC MALIGNANT-LYMPHOMA DIAGNOSED AND COMPLETELY RESECTED BY STRIP BIOPSY

A case of early gastric malignant lymphoma definitively diagnosed by s trip biopsy is reported. The subsequent operation revealed that the st rip biopsy had resulted in radical resection. A 55-year-old woman visi ted our hospital for detailed examination of a small gastric lesion. H istologic findings of the specimens obtained by conventional forceps b iopsy indicated reactive lymphoid hyperplasia, although the possibilit y of malignant lymphoma was not completely ruled out. Strip biopsy was , therefore, performed to establish a definitive diagnosis. Histopatho logical examinations of the strip biopsy specimen revealed definitive findings of malignant lymphoma, which was B-cell phenotype immunocytoc hemically. The margin of the resected specimen was free of invasion by malignant lymphoma and no lymph node involvement was suggested by end oscopic ultrasonography, computed tomography, and gallium scintigram. Subtotal gastrectomy was subsequently performed to rule out the possib ility of remaining malignant lymphoma cells. It was proven that the st rip biopsy removed the lesion completely and no perigastric lymph node s were involved. While is still controversial as to whether strip biop sy should be adopted for the radical resection of early gastric lympho ma, this procedure can definitely provide excellent specimens for the accurate diagnosis of gastric malignant lymphoma and probably for grou p III lesions in the stomach.