Endoscopy 2010; 42: E175
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1214857
Unusual cases and technical notes

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

A mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma of the small intestine that was difficult to diagnose endoscopically

K.  Yoneda1 , H.  Takahashi1 , Y.  Abe1 , M.  Inamori1 , S.  Kato1 , T.  Uchiyama1 , H.  Iida1 , H.  Mawatari1 , K.  Hosono1 , H.  Endo1 , Y.  Nozaki1 , T.  Akiyama1 , K.  Fujita1 , M.  Yoneda1 , N.  Kobayashi1 , H.  Kirikoshi1 , K.  Kubota1 , S.  Saito1 , A.  Nakajima1
  • 1Gastroenterology Division, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, Japan
Further Information

H. Takahashi

Gastroenterology Division
Yokohama City University School of Medicine

3-9 Fuku-ura
Kanazawa-ku
Yokohama 236-0004
Japan

Fax: +81-45-7843546

Email: hirokazu@med.yokohama-cu.ac.jp

Publication History

Publication Date:
17 June 2010 (online)

Table of Contents

A 75-year-old man was admitted with bloating, distension, and diarrhea since the past 2 months. He was not taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs) on a regular basis. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) revealed a stricture in the jejunum. A small-bowel contrast study showed a severe stricture in the jejunum, which was dilated on its proximal side. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed gastritis and Helicobacter pylori. A colonoscopy revealed no abnormal findings. Oral single-balloon enteroscopy revealed a stricture 120 cm distal to the pylorus. Irregularity of the small-bowel mucosa was observed but there was no ulceration ([Fig. 1]). Histological examination of a biopsy specimen revealed interstitial atypical lymphoid hyperplasia.

Two weeks later, the patient was still symptomatic and a second enteroscopy was carried out for another biopsy specimen; during this procedure, a shallow ulcer was observed on the proximal side of the stricture ([Fig. 2]). The biopsy revealed a lymphoepithelial lesion that was positive for CD20 and CD79a ([Fig. 3]) and negative for CD10 and CD5. On the basis of these findings, the patient was diagnosed as having marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT).

After antibiotic treatment for H. pylori eradication, the patient was treated with three cycles of rituximab and four cycles of rituximab plus R-CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone) chemotherapy. A third enteroscopy showed that the ulcer had healed and the stricture had reduced in size ([Fig. 4]).

In the present case, a change in the form of the lesion was observed within a short time period, because of which a pathological diagnosis was possible. Although enteroscopy is widely used for detection and diagnosis, the procedure should be done more than once to obtain a reliable diagnosis.

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Fig. 1 The first enteroscopy showing a stricture 120 cm distal to the pylorus. There is irregularity of the small-bowel mucosa, but with no ulceration.

Zoom Image

Fig. 2 The second enteroscopy showing a shallow ulcer on the proximal side of the stricture.

Zoom Image

Fig. 3 a Histological section showing interstitial atypical lymphoid hyperplasia and lymphoepithelial lesions. The cells were positive for b CD20 and c CD79a.

Zoom Image

Fig. 4 The third enteroscopy carried out after chemotherapy showing absence of ulceration and reduced stricture.

Endoscopy_UCTN_Code_CCL_1AC_2AC

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    H. Takahashi

    Gastroenterology Division
    Yokohama City University School of Medicine

    3-9 Fuku-ura
    Kanazawa-ku
    Yokohama 236-0004
    Japan

    Fax: +81-45-7843546

    Email: hirokazu@med.yokohama-cu.ac.jp

    #

      H. Takahashi

      Gastroenterology Division
      Yokohama City University School of Medicine

      3-9 Fuku-ura
      Kanazawa-ku
      Yokohama 236-0004
      Japan

      Fax: +81-45-7843546

      Email: hirokazu@med.yokohama-cu.ac.jp

      Zoom Image

      Fig. 1 The first enteroscopy showing a stricture 120 cm distal to the pylorus. There is irregularity of the small-bowel mucosa, but with no ulceration.

      Zoom Image

      Fig. 2 The second enteroscopy showing a shallow ulcer on the proximal side of the stricture.

      Zoom Image

      Fig. 3 a Histological section showing interstitial atypical lymphoid hyperplasia and lymphoepithelial lesions. The cells were positive for b CD20 and c CD79a.

      Zoom Image

      Fig. 4 The third enteroscopy carried out after chemotherapy showing absence of ulceration and reduced stricture.