MULTIPLE LYMPHOMATOUS POLYPOSIS OF THE GUT - A CASE WITH UNUSUALLY WIDESPREAD DISTRIBUTION

Multiple lymphomatous polyposis (MLP) is a term used to describe malig nant lymphomas of the gastrointestinal tract that manifest as polyposi s. The cell population of MLP is identical to that in ''mantle cell ly mphoma.'' In most instances, relatively small segments of small and la rge intestine are affected. We report a case of MLP in which involveme nt was unusually widespread. A 56-year-old man, with abdominal pain an d weight loss, proved to have a large mass at the ileocecal valve as w ell as multiple polyps of the stomach and small and large intestine. M LP is distinctive both grossly and microscopically. Clinically, it may be confused with epithelial polyps, and histologically it must be dis tinguished from benign lymphoid proliferations as well as other types of lymphoma. The latter distinction is important because of the relati vely poor prognosis (median survival of < 3 years).