Review
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World J Gastroenterol. Feb 14, 2011; 17(6): 697-707
Published online Feb 14, 2011. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v17.i6.697
Primary gastrointestinal lymphoma
Prasanna Ghimire, Guang-Yao Wu, Ling Zhu
Prasanna Ghimire, Guang-Yao Wu, Ling Zhu, Department of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, 169 East Lake Road, Wuhan 430071, Hubei Province, China
Author contributions: Ghimire P designed, performed the literature search and wrote the review; Wu GY and Zhu L assisted in revising the manuscript.
Supported by Hubei Province Natural Science Fund of China, No. 2009CDA071; and Wuhan University Independence Fund of China, No. 303275894
Correspondence to: Guang-Yao Wu, MD, PhD, Department of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, 169 East Lake Road, Wuhan 430071, Hubei Province, China. wuguangy2002@yahoo.com.cn
Telephone: +86-27-67813187 Fax: +86-27-67813188
Received: September 22, 2010
Revised: November 11, 2010
Accepted: November 18, 2010
Published online: February 14, 2011
Abstract

Gastrointestinal tract is the most common extranodal site involved by lymphoma with the majority being non-Hodgkin type. Although lymphoma can involve any part of the gastrointestinal tract, the most frequent sites in order of its occurrence are the stomach followed by small intestine and ileocecal region. Gastrointestinal tract lymphoma is usually secondary to the widespread nodal diseases and primary gastrointestinal tract lymphoma is relatively rare. Gastrointestinal lymphomas are usually not clinically specific and indistinguishable from other benign and malignant conditions. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is the most common pathological type of gastrointestinal lymphoma in essentially all sites of the gastrointestinal tract, although recently the frequency of other forms has also increased in certain regions of the world. Although some radiological features such as bulky lymph nodes and maintenance of fat plane are more suggestive of lymphoma, they are not specific, thus mandating histopathological analysis for its definitive diagnosis. There has been a tremendous leap in the diagnosis, staging and management of gastrointestinal lymphoma in the last two decades attributed to a better insight into its etiology and molecular aspect as well as the knowledge about its critical signaling pathways.

Keywords: Gastrointestinal lymphoma, Epstein-Barr virus, Helicobacter pylori, Celiac disease, Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma