Primary rectal lymphoma as a cause of bowel obstruction. Report of a case.
BACKGROUND
Malignant lymphoma involving the rectum either as a localized process or as a manifestation of disseminated disease is rare. Several treatments have been proposed and reported, including surgical resection alone or associated with adjuvant chemoradiation, chemotherapy alone, and radiotherapy alone.


METHODS
A case of bowel obstruction caused by a primary rectal MALT lymphoma is reported. Following emergency loop sigmoid colostomy the patient was started on multiple specific cycles of chemotherapy according to the MACOP-B protocol.


RESULTS
At the end of chemotherapy a remarkable reduction in the size of the tumor was noted. Subsequently the patient underwent an ultralow anterior resection followed by a straight coloanal anastomosis. At 36 months of follow-up the patient is alive with no tumor recurrence.


CONCLUSIONS
The present report describes the unique case of a patient with primary obstructing rectal lymphoma treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and sphincter-saving curative surgery.
Institute of Human Pathology, University of Messina, Italy.
Giuseppe
G
Navarra
Gian Luigi
GL
Adani
Elisabetta
E
Bardella
Simona
S
Ascanelli
Alessandro
A
Turini
Enzo
E
Pozza
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed