RADIOGRAPHIC AND COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHIC FINDINGS OF GASTRIC MUCOSA-ASSOCIATED LYMPHOID-TISSUE LYMPHOMAS

The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the detection of gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma lesions b y upper gastrointestinal (UGI) radiography and computed tomography (CT ). Fifteen patients with endoscopic biopsy-proven MALT lymphoma were i ncluded. Fourteen of these patients underwent double-contrast UGI radi ography and 14 were examined with CT of the upper abdomen; 13 underwen t both procedures. UGI radiography identified 88% (30/34) of lesions d etected by endoscopy, including 12 of 13 enlarged rugal folds and 15 o f the 17 multinodular lesions, but failed to identify two of the three ulcerative lesions. UGI radiography identified the only submucosal le sion demonstrated by endoscopy, as well as one at the gastric antrum t hat had been missed by endoscopy. CT demonstrated nine of 30 endoscopi cally proven MALT lymphoma lesions, three with focal thickening of the gastric wall and six with a lobulated inner gastric wall. CT failed t o demonstrate two fundal and 19 antral or gastric body lesions. Our fi ndings suggest that the predominant UGI features of gastric MALT lymph oma are enlarged folds and multinodular lesions. Although UGI radiogra phy does not reveal all MALT lymphoma lesions, it may find lesions tha t are not detected by endoscopy. Mucosal lesions of gastric MALT lymph oma are usually not detected by CT.