Marginal Zone Lymphoma (including MALT)

Your Path

  • Marginal Zone Lymphoma (including MALT)

Sites

  • Stomach, salivary glads, lacrimal glads, small intestine; less commonly lymph nodes, spleen

Etiology

  • 5-10% of NHL
  • Average age 60s
  • Most common is MALT (Mucosa Associated Lymphoid Tissue) lymphoma
  • MALT is extra-nodal (i.e. occurs in mucosal tissue)
  • MALT most commonly affects stomach; also lacrimal glands, salivary glands, thyroid, small intestine, lung, other
  • Other marginal zone lymphomas are less common, arising in lymph nodes or spleen

Risk Factors

  • H pylori for gastric MALT
  • Sjogrens for salivary and lacrimal MALT

Symptoms

  • Slow growing
  • Symptoms related to location: Stomach--> vague dyspepsia, vague epigastric pain, slow blood loss, wt loss; thyroid, salivary, lacrimal--> painless masses in those areas
  • Other sx can relate to local disruption in organ function
  • Starts local and spreads late

Physical Exam Findings

  • Slow growing, painless mass in area affected--> salivary, thyroid, lacrimal, etc