ENDOSCOPIC AND IMAGE FEATURES IN PRIMARY GASTROINTESTINAL LYMPHOMA - A 7-YEAR EXPERIENCE

Background/Aims: Primary gastro-intestinal lymphoma (PGIL) has various presentations in the gastrointestinal tract. Between 1987 and 1993 we examined 90 cases, using radiography, sonography and/or endoscopy, in an attempt to characterize the lesions of PGIL. Materials and Methods : Patients suffering from PGIL lesions were investigated with the comb ined modalities of radiology, sonography and endoscopy The data was re viewed retrospectively. All cases were proven by tissue histology obta ined by biopsy or surgical resection. Results: We characterized seven growth patterns of PGIL: ulceration, infiltration, structure, obstruct ion, erosion-like lesion, new growth (divided into 3 sub-groups: nodul e, polypoid and mass) and perforation. Ulcerative lesion was found to be predominant in stomach (80.5%, P<0.001) and duodenum (71.4%, P<0.01 ) comparing with small (19.2%) and large (43.8%) bowel. The positive r ate of gastric biopsy using endoscopy was 86% (31/36 biopsy cases). Ne w growth pattern was the second main feature in PGIL, and one of the n ew growths, namely the mass, was predominant feature in terminal ileum (71.4%, P<0.001) and colon (62.5%, P<0.001) when compared with stomac h. Ulceration was a more frequent lesion in gastric and duodenal lymph oma. Cecal and terminal ileal lymphomas were mainly presented as new g rowth lesions, following the mass pattern. Conclusions: Radiographic, sonographic and endoscopic studies showed different patterns in PGIL. A combination of these modalities was recommended in the evaluation of various lesions of PGIL.