Gastrointestinal dissemination of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma: computed tomographic findings.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the computed tomographic findings of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma with gastrointestinal (GI) tract dissemination.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the computed tomographic findings for the location, morphology, contrast enhancement, and continuity of the involved bowel segment with ancillary findings in 10 patients with MALT lymphoma involving multiple GI tracts.

RESULTS

MALT lymphoma involved a total of 31 bowel segments. The gastric lesions appeared as segmental (n = 4) or diffuse (n = 1) wall thickening and the small- or large-intestinal lesions as circumferential wall thickening (n = 11) or localized polypoid mass (n = 8) with homogeneous and isoattenuating or hypoattenuating enhancement. Continuity of the involved bowel segment was present in 6 patients, bowel perforation in 1, lymphadenopathy in 8, and hepatosplenomegaly in 4.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite its rarity, MALT lymphoma can disseminate into the GI tract in the form of circumferential bowel wall thickening or localized polypoid mass with or without gastric involvement.