Low grade MALT lymphoma of the stomach: Treatment outcome with radiotherapy alone

In order to evaluate the role of radiation therapy in the management of low-grade mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma of the stomach (MLS), in patients with no evidence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) or who had not responded to H. pylori eradication treatment, we analyzed the treatment outcome of patients who had received radiotherapy alone. Between Jan 1995 and May 2001, 6 patients with low-grade MLS were treated with radiotherapy alone. The median radiation dose was 30.6 Gy (range; 30 - 39 Gy) in a daily fractions of 1.5 - 1.8 Gy. Each patient had an endoscopic esophago-gastro-duodenoscopy with biopsy, 4 weeks after the completion of radiotherapy and every 6 months thereafter. A complete response was obtained in all patients. All patients were followed-up without evidence of disease, and no patient suffered a relapse. There was neither perforation nor hemorrhage of the stomach in any of the patients. No renal or hepatic toxicity were noted, and no secondary malignancies developed. In conclusion, radiotherapy should be considered as the preferred treatment method for low-grade MLS, in patients with no evidence of H. pylori infection, or who do not respond to antibiotic therapy, due to the significant benefits in gastric preservation and low morbidity.