Objective: To explore the clinical features and treatments of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma.
Methods: The clinical data of 80 MALT lymphoma patients treated from September 2000 to November 2012 were retrospectively analyzed.
Results: Among them, 32 (40.0%) had gastric MALT lymphoma and 48(60.0%) non-gastric MALT lymphoma. Gastric lymphoma associated anemia accounted for 50.0% (16/32) (25.0% (12/48) in non-gastric group, P = 0.022). In non-gastric group, stage III-IV diseases accounted for 35.4% (17/48) (12.5% (4/32) in gastric group, P = 0.022). During a median follow-up of 30 months, the 5-year overall survival (OS) rate was 90.0% and 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) rate 67.0%. For the non-gastric group, surgery plus chemotherapy group was superior in PFS to surgery alone group (the 3-year PFS rate 83.0% and 33.0%; median PFS 43.4 months and 20.3 months) (P = 0.040). Five-year OS in patients on first-line rituximab and chemotherapy without rituximab were 100.0% and 86.0% respectively (P = 0.106). Short-term response (OR = 0.258, P = 0.020) and low albumin (OR = 3.967, P = 0.009) were independent factor for PFS.
Conclusions: Non-gastric MALT lymphoma is easily disseminated. Systemic treatment may be considered for advanced non-gastric MALT lymphoma. Surgery often leaves residual lesions for gastric MALT lymphoma.