PRIMARY GASTRIC LYMPHOMA - ANALYSIS OF 86 CASES

We report the retrospective analysis of 86 patients with primary gastr ic lymphoma diagnosed in a period of 12 years, that constitute 5.6% of malignant gastric lesions diagnosed in that lapse. Upper gastrointest inal endoscopy diagnosed a malignant lesion in 93% and lymphoma in 36% of cases. Endoscopic biopsies disclosed malignant lesions in 79 cases (93%) and were diagnostic of lymphoma in 70 (82%). All patients were operated, including the seven subjects in which the biopsy did not sho w malignant lesions; the surgical indication of the latter was based i n clinical grounds. The macroscopic examination of the surgical piece showed ulcerated lesions in 45 (52%) and mixed lesions (ulcerated and protruded with and without multiple erosions) in 15 (18%) patients. Se venteen patients (33%) had an early lesion of the MALT type (mucosa as sociated lymphoid tissue) and 87% of lesions were of low or intermedia te histological type.