Endoscopic appearance of enteropathy-type T-cell lymphoma (ETL) has rarely been described
[1]
[2]
[3]
[4]. We report detailed endoscopic findings in two Japanese cases of ETL.
Patient 1 was a 77-year-old man who was admitted because of anorexia and diarrhea.
Esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed edematous mucosa with nodular or mosaic pattern
in the duodenum ([Fig. 1]). Antegrade double balloon endoscopy revealed thickening of the mucosa with loss
of folds and a mass with circumferential ulceration in the jejunum ([Fig. 2]). Biopsy disclosed diffuse infiltrate of small to medium-sized atypical lymphoid
cells with CD3+, CD8+, CD20-, CD56+, TIA-1+, and CD103-immunophenotype ([Fig. 3]). A diagnosis of ETL in stage I was thus made. The patient was treated with two
courses of chemotherapy with pirarubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisolone.
However, intestinal perforation occurred, and he underwent immediate laparotomy. The
patient died of lymphoma 2 months after surgery. Positive serum antigliadin antibodies
and the presence of villous atrophy with intraepithelial T-cells in the small intestine
suggested pre-existing celiac disease.
Fig. 1 Patient 1. Esophagogastroduodenoscopic view of the second portion of the duodenum
showed edematous mucosa with a nodular or mosaic pattern.
Fig. 2 Patient 1. Antegrade double balloon endoscopic views of the jejunum. a Diffuse thickening of the mucosa with a nodular or mosaic pattern can be seen. b An ulcerated mass was also observed.
Fig. 3 Patient 1. Histologic picture of the jejunal specimens obtained by endoscopic biopsy
discloses a diffuse infiltrate of small to medium-sized atypical lymphoid cells.
Patient 2 was a 56-year-old man who was admitted with abdominal pain, diarrhea, and
body weight loss (7kg). Sigmoidoscopy revealed multiple discrete ulcers in the edematous
sigmoid colon and the rectum ([Fig. 4]). After barium meal study, intestinal perforation occurred. During the emergent
laparotomy, partial resection of the small intestine was carried out. Histologic examination
of the resected intestine suggested a diagnosis of ETL. The patient was treated with
four courses of chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and
prednisolone. However, he died of lymphoma 6 months after the surgery.
Fig. 4 Patient 2. Colonoscopic views of the sigmoid colon (a) and the rectum (b). Multiple discrete or punched-out ulcers can be seen in the thickened mucosa.
Our experiences suggest diffuse mucosal thickening and edema with ulcerations in the
intestine to be characteristic of ETL. In addition, double balloon endoscopy showed
a nodular or mosaic mucosal pattern in the small intestine, which may be specific
to the disease.
Endoscopy_UCTN_Code_CCL_1AC_2AC
