Decreasing incidence of gastric MALT lymphomas in the era of anti-Helicobacter pylori interventions: results from a population-based study on extranodal marginal zone lymphomas.
BACKGROUND
Few studies have been carried out to date that have addressed the epidemiology of extranodal marginal zone lymphomas (EN-MZLs).


METHODS
We carried out a population-based study to investigate incidence rates (IRs) and time trends of EN-MZL diagnosed in the province of Modena (Italy) from 1997 to 2007.


RESULTS
One hundred and sixty-five cases were identified from the Modena Cancer Registry that corresponded to an age-standardized IR of 2.3 cases per 100 000. A bimodal distribution of age was shown with the group of young patients mostly represented by males with cutaneous lymphoma. No time trends were observed for the IR; the incidence of gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (g-MALT) lymphomas (N = 51) markedly declined during the study period, dropping from 1.4 in 1997 to 0.2 in 2002 and then remaining stable until 2007; the calculated annual percent change for g-MALT was -17.0% (95% confidence interval -26.6% to -6.2%). We also observed a significant decrease in the rate of g-MALT associated with Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection from 61% to 17% of patients diagnosed before and after 2002 (P = 0.007; P for trend = 0.016).


CONCLUSIONS
This population-based study provides new insights into recent changes in the epidemiology of EN-MZL, mainly represented by the sharp reduced incidence of HP-positive g-MALT lymphomas.
Department of Oncology and Hematology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena. Electronic address: sluminari@unimore.it.
S
S
Luminari
Department of Oncology and Hematology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena.
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M
Cesaretti
Department of Oncology and Hematology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena.
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L
Marcheselli
Modena Cancer Registry, Modena, Italy.
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I
Rashid
Department of Oncology and Hematology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena.
S
S
Madrigali
Department of Laboratory, Pathology and Legal Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
A
A
Maiorana
Department of Oncology and Hematology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena.
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M
Federico
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D018442:Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011153:Population; D012042:Registries; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D055815:Young Adult
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents