THE ROLE OF ENDOSCOPY IN THE DIAGNOSIS AND FOLLOW-UP OF LOW-GRADE GASTRIC MUCOSA-ASSOCIATED LYMPHOID-TISSUE LYMPHOMA

Low-grade gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma is a rare gastric neoplasia that arises from mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue. Histologic criteria for diagnosing this neoplasia have been de fined, as has the key role of Helicobacter pylori in its origin. Endos copic aspects of low-grade MALT-lymphoma vary considerably in diagnosi s and follow-up, ranging from normal-appearing mucosa to obviously mal ignant lesions, and thus they have a low diagnostic value. Because an earlier diagnosis of low-grade MALT-lymphoma is now possible through s uch sophisticated techniques as the polymerase chain reaction, low-gra de MALT-lymphoma will be diagnosed in the future more frequently with minimal macroscopic lesions or even without them.