[Low malignancy MALT lymphoma of the stomach: H. pyloric eradication as a therapeutic concept?].

A 63 year old patient came to admission because of abdominal pain. A stone disease of the gallbladder was known. Gastroscopy showed active gastritis of the antral-mucosa with some erosive lesions. Histology revealed surprisingly a low grade MALT lymphoma. Helicobacter pylori colonization (H. pylori) was found in the mucosa. While additional lymphomas were not found, a therapy aiming at the eradication of H. pylori was started. A subsequent control biopsy showed only slight lymphoplasmacellular inflammatory infiltration of the mucosa but no evidence of lymphoma. Our case report shows, that regression of a gastric MALT lymphoma can be achieved by eradication of H. pylori only. So far we don't know for how long this regression will continue and if permanent healing is possible. Further studies will have to show whether eradication of H. pylori can be established as a new therapeutic concept of low-grade MALT lymphomas at early stages.