Low-grade B cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) arising in the gallbladder

Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphomas arise in most cases in t he gastrointestinal tract, and are usually of low-grade B cell origin. MALT lymphomas may rarely occur in organs where lymphoid tissue is sparse, espe cially following inflammatory conditions. Primary lymphomas of the gallblad der are extremely rare, and MALT lymphoma has been reported only twice. We herein describe the third case of low-grade MALT lymphoma of the gallbladde r, which exhibits an unusual clinical behavior. The exceptionally advanced stage of the disease stresses the importance of early operation when cholec ystectomy is indicated.