[Gastric lyphoma - still a result of surgery?]

In extranodal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), the gastrointestinal tract is by far the most frequent localization. One must differentiate between primary lymphoma, e.g. those arising in the gastrointestinal tract, and secondary lymphoma, which can affect the digestive tract as a disseminations of nodal lymphoma. Analysis of histomorphologic and immunhistochemical characteristics and the concept of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) have led to primary gastrointestinal lymphoma now being viewed as an independent entity. The great majority of gastric lymphoma (>90%) are marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of the MALT type, previously called low grade MALT lymphoma, and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, previously called high grade gastric lymphoma. This review examines current views on pathogenesis, diagnosis, and therapy of this disorder.