Malignant lymphoma of the gastrointestinal tract

Aims: The gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is the most common site of extra-nod al lymphoma. Most of these lymphomas arise from mucosa associated lymphoid tissue (MALT). We attempt in this study to define the natural history and t reatment outcome of this type of lymphoma. Methods: We carried out a retrospective study of patients presenting at our centre with histopathological diagnosis of primary GIT lymphoma between 19 90 and 1994. Results: Equal numbers of cases of stomach and smalt bowel lymphoma were fo und. Vomiting and feeling of fullness were the two most common presenting s ymptoms. Large cell type and high grade tumours were found to be the common est histological types. All the patients were treated with surgery followed by chemotherapy. A 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) rate of 73% was obse rved with a confidence interval of 0.65-1.35. Survival in stomach cancer wa s 73.5% (95% CI 0.26-1.74) while it was 76.4% in small bowel tumours (95% C I 0.54-1.46). The difference in survival was not statistically significant. Conclusions: Although there is no consensus regarding treatment of primary GI IS lymphoma. surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy yield good survival.