Synchronous gastric adenocarcinoma and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma in association with Helicobacter pylori infection: Comparing reported cases between the East and West

The association of Helicobacter pylori infection with synchronous gastric a denocarcinoma and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma is rare . Three Chinese patients (M:F = 1:2) who were 71, 58, and 75 yr of age were diagnosed to have gastric adenocarcinoma (2 patients) and gastric lymphoma (l patient) on endoscopic biopsies. Distal gastrectomy was performed in all of them. Histological study of the three resected specimens revealed synch ronous gastric adenocarcinoma and MALT lymphoma. H. pylori infection was fo und in two patients. A literature search revealed another 29 patients with synchronous tumors in whom H, pylori status was examined. Overall, H. pylor i infection was found in 78% of 32 patients. The majority of lymphoma was l ow grade (75%) and was larger than carcinoma (81%). The majority of carcino ma (65.6%) was early. This suggested lymphoma might develop before carcinom a or the presence of MALT lymphoma might increase the risk of developing ca rcinoma. (C) 2001 by Am. Coll. of Gastroenterology.