A clinicopathological study of 152 surgically treated primary gastric lymphomas with survival analysis of 109 high grade tumours.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the clinicopathological features of a large number of surgically treated and followed up primary gastric lymphomas and thereby gain a better understanding of their biology, with particular reference to the prognostic factors of high grade tumours.


METHODS
A retrospective study of 152 patients.


RESULTS
High grade gastric lymphomas, both pure and with a residual low grade component, differed from low grade mucosa associated lymphoid tissue (MALT)-type lymphomas in that they were more frequently large, ulcerated, at an advanced stage, and highly proliferating. In addition, patients were older and had a worse outcome. The prognosis of high grade lymphomas was influenced by patient age, tumour stage, depth of infiltration in the gastric wall, and the invasion of adjacent organs. Adjuvant postsurgical treatment prolonged survival only in patients with advanced stage and deep neoplastic infiltration.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a sharp distinction between low grade MALT-type lymphomas and tumours with a high grade component, justifying their different treatment approach. The postsurgical management of high grade lymphomas should be based on the accurate evaluation of the neoplastic extension.
Ranaldi
R
R
Department of Pathology, University of Ancona School of Medicine, 60020 Torrette di Ancona, Italy.
Goteri
G
G
Baccarini
M G
MG
Mannello
B
B
Bearzi
I
I
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D018442:Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D016019:Survival Analysis