[Primary non-Hodgkin's lymphomas of the colon: apropos of a case with double localization]

A case of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma involving the caecum and the rectum was resected. The disease occurs in 1-4% of gastrointestinal neoplasms and comprises 0.2-0.65% of colorectal tumours. The caecum is frequently involved while primary malignant lymphoma localized to the caecum and the rectum is more uncommon. The most representative histological types are histiocytic or lymphocytic tumours. The disease commonly presents as a painful abdominal mass and is associated with weight loss and diarrhoea. Barium enema and pancolonoscopy are sufficient for diagnosis, but echotomography and Tc scan are useful for staging. Surgery is the treatment of choice and overall 5-years survival is 30-40%. The role of adjuvant therapy has not yet been clearly defined, although data from some studies indicate increased survival in those patients given adjuvant therapy compared with patients treated with surgical resection alone.