Clonal relationship of extranodal marginal zone lymphomas of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT lymphoma) involving multiple organ systems with review of the literature

Abstract Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphomas are often multifocal with patchy distribution that can be scattered throughout an involved organ. Previous studies have shown that each of these surrounding foci is often clonally related. Less is known about the clonal relationship of MALT...
Ausführliche Beschreibung

Abstract Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphomas are often multifocal with patchy distribution that can be scattered throughout an involved organ. Previous studies have shown that each of these surrounding foci is often clonally related. Less is known about the clonal relationship of MALT lymphomas that involve multiple different organ systems. To investigate the clonal relationship of MALT lymphomas that involve multiple different organ systems, we retrospectively reviewed records of all marginal zone lymphoma from our database. Three cases were found to have multiple organ involvement and subjected to the analysis of the rearranged immunoglobulin variable regions using a polymerase chain reaction–based assay. Three cases of MALT lymphomas arising from multiple sites include liver and lung, gastric and lung, nasopharynx, and parotid. Our results demonstrate that two of these cases show a clonal relationship; however, one case appears clonally distinct and appears unrelated. With reviewing the literature of MALT lymphomas that involve multiple different organ systems, it overall supports that clearly these have the potential to disseminate to other extranodal locations; however, involvement of multiple different organ systems should not necessarily be considered definitive evidence for disseminated or advanced disease. Ausführliche Beschreibung