Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma: multimodality imaging and histopathologic correlation

Area of Science:

• Gastrointestinal Radiology
• Oncology
• Pathology

Background:

• Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma is a distinct subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
• It commonly affects the gastrointestinal tract but can occur in extranodal sites.
• Accurate diagnosis is essential due to differing clinical behaviors and treatment strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To illustrate the characteristic imaging findings of gastrointestinal and nongastrointestinal MALT lymphoma.
• To correlate radiologic features with histopathologic diagnoses.
• To describe imaging features that differentiate MALT lymphoma from other lymphomas.

Main Methods:

• Review of imaging studies (CT, MRI, US) in patients with histopathologically confirmed MALT lymphoma.
• Correlation of imaging findings with endoscopic and histopathologic data.
• Analysis of imaging patterns specific to MALT lymphoma.

Main Results:

• Detailed description of imaging manifestations of MALT lymphoma in various gastrointestinal segments (stomach, small intestine, colon).
• Presentation of imaging features of extranodal MALT lymphoma in sites like the salivary glands and lungs.
• Identification of key radiologic signs aiding in the distinction from other gastrointestinal lymphomas.

Conclusions:

• Imaging plays a vital role in the initial detection and characterization of MALT lymphoma.
• Integration of radiologic and histopathologic findings is critical for accurate diagnosis.
• Differentiating MALT lymphoma from other lymphomas based on imaging is important for guiding treatment decisions.