The role of surgical intervention in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the colon and rectum.
BACKGROUND
Gastrointestinal involvement of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), although rare, may require surgical intervention. The purpose of the current study was to determine the incidence, presentation, and management of patients with NHL of the colon or rectum.


METHODS
Demographic data, signs, symptoms, disease stage, and treatment of patients with a primary gastrointestinal lymphoma treated between 1973 and 2005 were identified.


RESULTS
Forty-three of 244 gastrointestinal lymphoma patients (18%) had colon or rectal involvement. Most common symptoms on presentation were pain (49%), hematochezia (49%), change in bowel habits (23%), and weight loss (19%). Most common site of involvement was the ileocecum. Twenty-six patients (60%) required surgery. The majority (56%) had urgent or emergent operations.


CONCLUSIONS
Colorectal involvement by NHL occurred in 18% of patients with gastrointestinal lymphoma. Surgery was required for pain, obstruction, and/or bleeding. Physicians caring for patients must be aware of the potential need for surgery in treating this patient population.
Cai
Steven
S
Department of Surgery, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA.
Cannizzo
Francis
F
Bullard Dunn
Kelli M
KM
Gibbs
John F
JF
Czuczman
Myron
M
Rajput
Ashwani
A
D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000453:epidemiology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000453:epidemiology; D009518:New York / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss