It remains unclear whether lymphoma of the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT)
in the extragastric organs is related to Helicobacter pylori infection or not. This report describes three patients with rectal MALT lymphoma
negative for H. pylori infection, all of whom showed disease regression after being treated with antibiotics.
One patient had MALT lymphoma in both the descending colon and the rectum; the other
two patients had rectal disease only. None of the patients had chronic gastritis which
was detectable either endoscopically or histologically and H. pylori infection was completely ruled out by various methods, including a urease breath
test. These patients received antibiotic therapy. In all the patients, regression
of MALT lymphoma was observed endoscopically and histologically, and polymerase chain
reaction revealed that a previously observed rearranged band of immunoglobulin heavy
chain had also disappeared after antibiotic treatment. These cases therefore suggest
involvement of micro-organisms other than H. pylori in the development of rectal MALT lymphoma.
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K. Okazaki, M.D., Ph.D.
Division of Gastroenterology and Endoscopic Medicine · Graduate School of Medicine
· Kyoto University
54 Shogoinkawara-cho · Sakyoku · Kyoto, 606-8507 · Japan
Fax: + 81-75-7514303
eMail: okak@kuhp.kyoto-u.ac.jp