Lymphomas of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue arising in the urinary bladder

Primary bladder B-cell lymphoma: a rare case report and review of literature

Introduction and importance

Primary bladder lymphoma accounts for a mere fraction of vesical tumours and extranodal lymphomas, which mostly affect women. IGH-BCL2 translocation, which occurs in 80-100% of Western follicular variants but only 60% in Asian communities, must be studied to determine its effects on prognosis and treatment. This study analyses and compares relevant literature and data for the authors' case report.

Case presentation

The authors report a 69-year-old Caucasian female with one gross haematuria episode and no smoking history. Computed tomography (CT) showed a bilateral massive intraluminal mass left ureterovesical junction, hydronephrosis, and hydroureter.

Clinical discussion

Following the removal of a massive transurethral urinary bladder tumour, histological examination revealed lymphoma cells positive for IRTA and LMO2 but negative for IGH-BCL2. After these analyses, the patient received 3 weeks of 30 Gy/15 f IMRT/IGRT. Comparisons were made to previous case reports' histopathology.

Conclusion

The current case report emphasizes the rarity of primary bladder lymphoma and the absence of the IGH-BCL2 fusion gene. Following the successful administration of 30 Gy of radiation therapy, the patient's prognosis improved. The report emphasizes clinical vigilance and timely management while also urging further investigation.

Rare primary bladder mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma: A case report and review of literature

Primary bladder mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma is an extremely rare bladder tumor. Only scarce reports have been reported. We hereby report a case of an 81-year-old female patient with bladder tumor presenting with frequent urination and dysuria, whose pelvic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) considered bladder cancer. She underwent transurethral resection of the bladder tumor (TURBT), and histopathology confirmed the mass to be bladder MALT lymphoma. The patient refused further treatment, and no disease recurrence one year after surgery. The current data are insufficient to draw conclusions about the long-term efficacy of treatment for this tumor, regular follow-up is necessary. To further understand the clinical features, pathology, treatment and prognosis of this tumor, we have searched the literature from 1990 to the present, analyzing a total of 64 cases of primary MALT lymphoma.

Bladder mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma progressed from chronic cystitis along with a comparative genetic analysis during long-term follow-up: a case report

The pathogenesis of bladder marginal zone/mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma, which is the most common type of primary bladder lymphoma, has not been clarified. There are no reports that described histological and molecular time course of MALT lymphoma occurring in the bladder and the importance of the score on the Pelvic Pain and Urgency/Frequency (PUF) patient symptom scale during and after radiation therapy (RT). We present a case of MALT lymphoma with long-term comparative genetic analysis. A 77-year-old Japanese woman with hematuria and severe perineal pain was found to have a tumor-like lesion in the bladder trigone. She was diagnosed with cystitis based on the results of pathological examination and immunostaining after transurethral resection of the lesion. The second transurethral resection procedure was performed approximately 4 years after the first procedure because of recurrence of the hematuria and enlargement of a lesion in the left bladder wall. Postoperative pathologic examination confirmed a diagnosis of MALT lymphoma. Genetic analysis of immunoglobulin heavy chain (IGH) gene rearrangements showed more clonal progression from the first biopsy to the second. The patient then underwent RT, during which her perineal pain was exacerbated by radiation cystitis but finally decreased to a level less severe than that before treatment. The PUF patient symptom scale was useful to monitor her pain throughout the clinical course. No recurrence was detected more than 2 years after completion of RT.

Monotypic Plasma Cell Proliferation of Uncertain Clinical Significance Mimicking Interstitial Cystitis: An Early Lesion of MALT Lymphoma?

We prospectively studied our institutional experience of bladder extranodal marginal zone (mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue [MALT]) lymphoma including bladder biopsies in which the possibility of MALT lymphoma was considered. We identified a subset of cases primary to the urinary bladder, presenting with prominent plasma cell infiltrates and symptoms mimicking bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis. These proliferations were designated for this study as "monotypic plasma cell proliferation of uncertain clinical significance" (MPCP-US), as the features were insufficient for diagnosis of MALT lymphoma. We identified 33 patients, consisting of 22 cases of MPCP-US (6 of which were associated with amyloid deposition) and 11 cases of MALT lymphoma. MPCP-US was more prevalent in men (73%), a mass lesion was not identified at cystoscopy, and only 1 case had an accompanying urinary tract infection (4.5%). Histologically, MPCP-US presented as monotypic plasma cells arranged in a superficial band-like distribution in the lamina propria, predominantly kappa restricted (68%) and IgA+ or IgM+ (64% and 23%, respectively) and without a histologic mass of atypical B cells or plasma cells, not diagnostic for established MALT lymphoma or plasmacytoma. Secondary involvement of the bladder by other lymphoproliferative disorders was excluded and there was no evidence of progressive disease. MALT lymphomas are presented for comparison and our analysis demonstrated that MPCP-US represent a different clinicopathologic entity compared with classic MALT lymphoma. We present the first series of cases of MPCP-US. The recognition of this entity is fundamental to the development of management protocols to relieve intractable symptoms mimicking bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis in these patients.

MALT Lymphoma of the Urinary Bladder Shows a Dramatic Female Predominance, Uneven Geographic Distribution, and Possible Infectious Etiology

Extranodal marginal zone lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT lymphoma) of the urinary bladder is an extremely rare entity accounting for 0.2% of all malignant urinary bladder neoplasms, and the diagnosis could be challenging. We present here a patient with urinary bladder MALT lymphoma and review of all published case reports in the literature. We summarized the reported immunophenotype of the neoplasm, ancillary studies, therapy, and follow-up for all 59 patients in the table. The median patients’ age was 57 years-old (range, 17 to 88), with female predominance in 50 of 59 patients representing a 1:5.6 ratio. Geographical distribution of the reported patients was as follows: 22 from Asia, of which more than a half (16) originated from Japan; 28 from Europe, of which 19 reported from the United Kingdom, and 3 patients were reported from the United States (including our patient). Twenty-three (77%) of 30 patients, for whom their clinical presentation was recorded, had symptoms of cystitis; Escherichia coli was the most common pathogen. We concluded that a prominent female predominance, uneven geographic distribution of urinary bladder MALT lymphoma, and a success of antibacterial therapy in selected cases suggest the link between urinary tract infection and urinary bladder MALT lymphoma.

Primary bladder mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma: A case report and literature review

INTRODUCTION

Primary bladder mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma is a rare tumor. To date, the PubMed database contains only 39 English articles covering 63 cases of primary bladder MALT lymphoma. Herein, we report a case of this disease and review the current literature.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 77-year-old woman presented with frequent urination, urinary urgency, and dysuria for 3 years. In the past 3 years, the patient's symptoms recurred and progressively worsened, and she was admitted to the hospital.

DIAGNOSIS

A histopathological examination revealed the bladder mass as a tumor with high proliferation of atypical B-lymphocytes. Immunohistochemistry showed positive results for CD20, PAX-5, Ki-67, BCL-2, and CD21 and negative results for CD10, MUM1, TDT, and cyclin D1. These data supported the diagnosis of primary bladder MALT lymphoma.

INTERVENTIONS

A transurethral resection of bladder tumor was performed to treat the disease.

OUTCOMES

The patient was alive and healthy at the 15-month follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Primary bladder MALT lymphoma is a rare disease and can be easily missed or misdiagnosed before achieving a histological confirmation. Surgery may be the best choice for both diagnosis and treatment.

Primary central nervous system marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of the Basal Ganglia mimicking low-grade glioma: a case report and review of the literature

Primary central nervous system (CNS) marginal zone B-cell lymphoma (MZBL) is very rare and shows an indolent disease course with potential of being cured. It seems to originate from meningothelial cells, and the most common site of occurrence is the dura of the cerebral convexity. Primary CNS MZBL is often misdiagnosed as meningioma because of its similar tumor locations and appearances on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and combinations of these are considered treatment modalities depending on the case. Herein, we describe an 18-year-old man who presented with acute onset of right-sided central facial nerve palsy, right-sided hemiparesis with motor power grade 4+, dizziness, and dysarthria. After an MRI scan of the brain, wherein he was first diagnosed with high-grade glioma, a biopsy sample showed that he had primary CNS MZBL arising in the left basal ganglia. He was treated with radiation therapy, which resulted in complete remission for 1 year and 10 months up to the date of this case report. It is important to diagnose primary CNS MZBL correctly because it is curable without unnecessary invasive treatment in cases of localized disease.

Intravesical mass consisting of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue

We report on a patient with an intravesical mass consisting of hyperplastic follicles in mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue. Computed tomography and ultrasonography revealed two intravesical masses measuring 3.5 cm and 1.5 cm along the long axis. Imaging diagnosis was invasive tumors of the bladder. However, the pathological diagnosis on transurethral bladder tumor biopsy was a lesion in lamina propria consisting of hyperplastic follicles and lymphatic infiltrate between them with no cell atypia. Light microscopically, the lesion was considered to be reactive follicular hyperplasia. Antibiotic therapy resulted in an almost complete disappearance of the tumors. Such large follicular hyperplasia in the lamina propria of the bladder is rare.

[Cystitis folicular. A case report and review of the literature]

OBJECT

We report a patient with cystitis follicularis and review the literature about it.

CLINICAL CASE

A man 78 years old with prostate cancer, who need a permanent bladder catheter. We make a desobstructive TUR, prostate resection and many nodular lesions in the lateral walls and bladder down. The diagnostic was cystitis follicularis.

CONCLUSIONS

The cystitis follycularis is a cystitis inespecific and chronic kind with a important inflammation made of lymphocytes and plasmatic cells. Its makes lymphocytes foliculos in the bladder subepithelial wall. The indefination its alive about cystitis follicularis etiopageny, treatment and prognostic. The histopathology study is neccessary.

Primary mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma arising from the male urethra. A case report and review of the literature

Primary non-Hodgkin's lymphomas rarely arise from the lower urinary tract, the urethra being the most uncommon site of origin. Herein, we report the immunohistochemical findings of a case of primary marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) arising from the male urethra. To clarify the clinicopathological findings of primary urethral lymphoma, we reviewed 14 previously reported cases. A 56-year-old man presented with gross hematuria. Cystourethroscopy demonstrated a nodular bulge of the urethral wall. Histologically, a transurethral biopsy specimen showed a dense lymphoplasmacytoid infiltrate in the urethral mucosa. The tumor cells were composed of centrocyte-like cells, plasma cells and plasmacytoid cells. A few plasma cells contained intracytoplasmic pseudoinclusions (Dutcher bodies). Immunohistochemical study revealed monotypic intracytoplasmic kappa-light chain in the plasma cells and plasmacytoid cells. The patient received a total of 50 Gy extrabeam irradiation. Follow-up 21 months later did not disclose any sign of local or other recurrences.

Extranodal marginal zone B cell lymphoma of MALT type involving the mucosa of both the urinary bladder and stomach

Primary lymphoma of the urinary bladder is a very rare tumour. A bladder tumour was found in a 57 year old man with obstructive dysuria. It was found by histological and immunohistohistochemical investigation to be an extranodal marginal zone B cell lymphoma. Lymphoepithelial lesions were absent, but were found in a clinically silent gastric lymphoma discovered four weeks later during staging investigations; this gastric lymphoma was negative for Helicobacter pylori by breath test and molecular biological analysis. Sequencing of the clonal immunoglobulin heavy chain gene in both tumours indicated the same precursor cell, of follicular or post follicular origin. In synopsis, the data suggested that this was a case of primary lymphoma of the bladder with involvement of the stomach. The application of a chromosome 3 specific alpha satellite probe revealed trisomy 3. A tumour with these characteristics arising as a lymphoma of the bladder with a metachronous involvement of the gastric mucosa has not been described previously.

Disappearance of a mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma of the urinary bladder after treatment for Helicobacter pylori

A59-yr old man presented with macroscopic hematuria. A non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the MALT type of the urinary bladder, stage I A-E, was diagnosed. Radiotherapy was advised, but the patient refused this kind of treatment. Because of the known relationship of a gastric MALT lymphoma and Helicobacter pylori, the patient was treated with HP eradication therapy. Afterwards the lymphoma disappeared. The patient is 3 yr later in a persistent complete remission. This is the first known case of the disappearance of a MALT lymphoma of the urinary bladder after treatment with HP eradication therapy.

Primary low-grade B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue of the dura mimicking the presentation of an acute subdural hematoma. Case report and review of the literature

The authors present the case of a 64-year-old woman who experienced a left hemiparesis. An initial diagnosis of subdural hematoma was made based on results of computerized tomography scanning. Subsequent magnetic resonance imaging indicated an extraaxial meningioma. Histological findings confirmed an extranodal marginal zone lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT). The authors outline the natural history of central nervous system lymphomas and of MALT lymphomas in other tissues. They review seven previously reported cases and emphasize the importance of recognizing these tumors as a distinct clinicopathological entity.

Primary extranodal mucosa associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma of the prostate

Low-grade B-cell mucosa associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma can rarely present primarily in extranodal sites other than stomach, which is the most common site for it. Until now only four cases of primary prostatic MALTomas have been described in the literature and we report the fifth. We describe a case of primary prostatic MALToma in a 67-year-old man and the diagnosis was made on the trans-urethral resection specimen of the prostate. As the disease was limited to prostate (stage IEA), the patient was treated with external beam radiation therapy to a total dose of 4400cGy in 22 fractions. The patient achieved completed remission and has remained free of disease in the following 36 months.

Primary low-grade B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue type arising in the urinary bladder: report of 4 cases with molecular genetic analysis

CONTEXT

Primary lymphoma of the urinary bladder is rare. Only 84 cases have been reported in the English literature to date, and none of these cases has had molecular confirmation of clonal immunoglobulin gene rearrangement.

OBJECTIVES

To review all cases with primary urinary bladder lymphoma in our records, to classify them using the REAL classification, to confirm their immunophenotype and genotype, and to determine their outcome.

DESIGN

We identified 4 cases of primary urinary bladder lymphoma in our medical records from a 30-year period. Immunohistochemical detection of immunoglobulin light chains and molecular analysis of immunoglobulin heavy-chain genes using the polymerase chain reaction were performed on paraffin-embedded material.

RESULTS

All patients were older than 60 years. The male-female ratio was 1:3. All patients had a history of chronic cystitis. Histologic features of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma with centrocyte-like cells, plasmacytoid B cells, or both were observed in all cases. Monoclonality of B cells was demonstrated by immunohistochemistry, polymerase chain reaction, or both methods in every case. All patients presented with stage IAE disease, were treated with radiotherapy alone, and have been in continuous complete remission for 2 to 13 years.

CONCLUSIONS

Primary bladder lymphomas are usually of low-grade mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue type. They are more common in females and are associated with a history of chronic cystitis. Lymphoepithelial lesions are seen only in association with areas of cystitis glandularis. B-cell clonality is readily demonstrable by immunohistochemistry and/or polymerase chain reaction analysis. Local radiotherapy appears to confer long-term control.

Malignant lymphoma of the urinary bladder: a clinicopathological study of 11 cases

AIM

To report the clinical and histological features and outcome of primary and secondary malignant lymphomas of the urinary bladder.

METHODS

Eleven cases of malignant lymphoma of the urinary bladder were obtained from the registry of cases at St Bartholomews and the Royal London Hospitals. The lymphomas were classified on the basis of their morphology and immunophenotype, and the clinical records were reviewed.

RESULTS

There were six primary lymphomas: three extranodal marginal zone lymphomas of mucosa associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) type and three diffuse large B cell lymphomas. Of the five secondary cases, four were diffuse large B cell lymphomas, one secondary to a systemic follicular follicle centre lymphoma, and one nodular sclerosis Hodgkins disease. Four patients with secondary lymphoma for whom follow up was available had died of disease within 13 months of diagnosis. Primary lymphomas followed a more indolent course. In one case, there was evidence of transformation from low grade MALT-type to diffuse large B cell lymphoma. The most common presenting symptom was haematuria. Cystoscopic appearances were of solid, sometimes necrotic tumours resembling transitional cell carcinoma, and in one case the tumours were multiple. These cases represented 0.2% of all bladder neoplasms.

CONCLUSIONS

Diffuse large B cell lymphoma and MALT-type lymphoma are the most common primary malignant lymphomas of the bladder. Lymphoepithelial lesions in MALT-type lymphoma involve transitional epithelium, and their presence in high grade lymphoma suggests a primary origin owing to transformation of low grade MALT-type lymphoma. Primary and secondary diffuse large B cell lymphomas of the bladder are histologically similar, but the prognosis of the former is favourable.

Paraganglioma of the urinary bladder: can biologic potential be predicted?

BACKGROUND

Paraganglioma of the urinary bladder is rarely encountered and its biologic behavior is uncertain. The authors sought to determine the prognostic factors that would predict patient outcome.

METHODS

The Mayo Clinic experience over 53 years with paraganglioma of the bladder was reviewed. All histologic slides from 16 patients were reviewed by the authors. Eight cases were examined immunohistochemically with cytokeratin (AE1/3, cytokeratin 7, and cytokeratin 20), vimentin, S-100 protein, neuroendocrine markers (chromogranin, synaptophysin, and neuron specific enolase), p53 protein, and MIB-1. DNA ploidy was determined by digital image analysis in formalin fixed, paraffin embedded tissue. The mean follow-up was 6.3 years (range, 0.4-16.4 years).

RESULTS

Paraganglioma usually occurred in young adult women (mean age, 45 years; range, 16-74 years). The male-to-female ratio was 1 to 3. The common symptoms and signs were hypertension and hematuria. The tumors were usually located intramurally in the lateral and posterior wall of the bladder and were multifocal in 3 cases (18%). Seven patients were treated by transurethral resection, eight by partial cystectomy, and one by radical cystectomy. T classification was T1 (1 patient), T2 (9 patients), T3 (2 patients), and T4b (4 patients). At the time of diagnosis, one patient had distant metastasis and one had regional lymph node metastasis. One patient developed metastasis 1 year after diagnosis and died of the disease 1.5 years later. None of the patients with T1 or T2 tumors had recurrence or tumor progression. All tumors were aneuploid. The mean MIB-1 labeling index was 1.5% (range, 0.03-7.0%). The tumor cells displayed immunoreactivity for S-100 protein and neuroendocrine markers and were negative for p53 (except 1 case) and cytokeratin.

CONCLUSIONS

Paraganglioma of the urinary bladder occurs mostly in young adult women. Patients with tumor of advanced classification (>/=T3) are at risk of recurrence, metastasis, and dying of the disease, whereas patients in this study with T1 or T2 disease had favorable outcomes after complete tumor resection.

Primary low-grade lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue of the urinary bladder: a case report with special reference to the use of ancillary diagnostic studies

We report a case of primary low-grade B-cell lymphoma of the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) type of the urinary bladder. The patient, a 77-year-old woman, presented with a sense of urinary retention. An intravenous pyelogram and cystoscopy revealed a wide-based submucosal mass measuring 3 cm in the left wall of the urinary bladder. Histological findings of the tissue obtained by transurethral resection (TUR) showed a dense, monomorphic atypical lymphoid (centrocyte-like) infiltrate with reactive lymph follicles in the subepithelial tissue. Monocytoid and plasmacytoid features were readily evident in a population of these cells. Lymphoepithelial lesions involving the urothelium were also noticed in some areas. These features were strongly suggestive of primary low-grade lymphoma of the MALT type. The diagnosis was confirmed by immunohistochemical and flow cytometric studies, both of which showed a clear immunoglobulin restriction to lambda light chain and also by polymerase chain reaction-based assay using a formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded TUR tissue sample, which showed a clonal Ig heavy-chain gene rearrangement. Clinical staging procedures revealed that the tumor was localized in the urinary bladder. The patient has not received chemotherapy and is alive and well with no evidence of recurrence, 3 years after TUR. This case demonstrates that these ancillary tests are worth performing for confirmation of B-cell clonality in TUR tissue samples showing dense B-lymphocytic infiltration.

Gastric low-grade mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphomas: their histogenesis and high-grade transformation

Gastric low-grade mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma is a unique disease. A vast majority of lymphoma cells are centrocyte-like cells or resemble monocytoid B cells, and occasionally show plasmacytic differentiation. Immunophenotypical and immunogenotypical examinations have indicated that they are in the differentiation stage of memory B cells, whose normal counterparts are marginal zone lymphocytes or monocytoid B cells in the lymphoid tissues. It arises from chronic gastritis closely associated with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphomas of other organs are also based on acquired MALT associated with chronic inflammation or autoimmune diseases. Interestingly, the majority of gastric low-grade MALT lymphomas regress by the eradication of H. pylori. The lymphoma cells, however, are not derived from B cells reacting with H. pylori itself but from autoreactive B cells. Although the mechanism of their oncogenesis has not been clarified, previous data suggest that autoreactive B cells proliferate in response to H. pylori-specific T cells, presumably with some cytokines. The genetic instability of such B cells then induces chromosomal abnormalities including trisomy 3 and/or other genetic changes. These B cells have the ability of autonomic proliferation and, even so, they might be sensitive to T cell stimuli. Low-grade gastric lymphomas occasionally progress to high-grade malignancy. The high-grade component of MALT lymphomas are composed of large-sized lymphoma cells that are morphologically indistinguishable from nodal large B cell lymphomas. This high-grade transformation is associated with p53 abnormalities or Bcl-6 overexpression. Gastric MALT lymphoma may provide a useful model in understanding multistep lymphomagenesis.

Primary T-cell lymphoma of the urinary bladder

Primary malignant lymphoma of the urinary bladder is very rare. Less than 100 cases have been reported; most are B-cell lymphomas. We report a case of primary T-cell lymphoma of the urinary bladder in a patient with a history of schistosomiasis. The patient is a 52-year-old man with suprapubic pain and hematuria. Examination revealed a large suprapubic mass. Computed tomography scan of the pelvis showed a large lobular mass occupying the urinary bladder. No pelvic or abdominal lymphadenopathy was noted, and results of metastatic workup were negative. The patient underwent a transurethral biopsy of the bladder mass that revealed a diffuse large cell lymphoma that was negative for the B-cell marker L-26 (CD 20) and positive for the T-cell marker CD-3. Polymerase chain reaction studies of the paraffin-embedded tissue revealed rearrangement of the T-cell receptor gamma gene. The patient was administered cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (CHOPP) chemotherapy and currently is being treated. This case represents, to our knowledge, a very rare primary lymphoproliferative neoplasm of the urinary bladder that might represent an unusual immune response to schistosomiasis.

Malignant lymphoma of the bladder: evidence from 36 cases that low-grade lymphoma of the MALT-type is the most common primary bladder lymphoma

Patients with malignant lymphoma of the bladder were studied, and three clinical groups were defined: those with primary lymphoma localized in the bladder, lymphoma presenting in the bladder as the first sign of disseminated disease (nonlocalized lymphoma), and recurrent bladder involvement by lymphoma in patients with a history of malignant lymphoma (secondary lymphoma). The differences in these groups regarding lymphoma type, clinical presentation, and clinical outcome were studied. Mayo Clinic Tissue Registry records from 1940 to 1996 were searched to identify patients with lymphomas involving the bladder. The lymphomas were classified based on review of the histology and immunophenotype performed by immunoperoxidase methods. Clinical records were reviewed. Presenting symptoms included urinary frequency, dysuria, hematuria, and lower abdominal and back pain. Primary lymphoma was present in six patients. All were B-cell lineage low-grade lymphomas of the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) type. No patient had recurrent lymphoma or died of lymphoma. Nonlocalized bladder lymphoma occurred in 17 patients; one with low-grade lymphoma of the MALT type, four with follicle center lymphomas, and 12 with large cell lymphomas. Excluding two patients who died postoperatively, median survival was 9 years. Six patients died of lymphoma in the follow-up period. Secondary bladder lymphoma occurred in 13 patients: two with low-grade lymphoma of the MALT type, one with follicle center lymphoma, one with mantle cell lymphoma, and nine with diffuse large cell lymphomas. Median survival in this group was 0.6 years. Low-grade lymphoma of the MALT type was the most frequent type of primary bladder lymphoma and was associated with an excellent prognosis. The bladder can be the presenting site of lymphomatous involvement in patients with more widespread disease. Survival in this group is quite favorable and is presumably dependent on lymphoma histologic type, stage of disease, and other prognostic factors. Bladder involvement by recurrent lymphoma is a sign of widely disseminated disease and is associated with a very poor prognosis.

Primary malignant lymphoma of the bladder. Report of three cases

Primary malignant lymphoma of the bladder is a rare tumour. In a recent literature search only 70 cases have been found since 1885. Most of these tumours were low grade B-cell non Hodgkin's lymphomas and only 20% were high grade neoplasms. This tumour usually appears in women between 20 and 85 years (median 64 yr.) of age. 20% of them have antecedents of chronic cystitic. Some authors have considered that some of the primary malignant lymphomas of the bladder arise from the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT), therefore acting like MALT lymphomas which affect the gastrointestinal tract, the salivary glands or the thyroid. We report three additional cases of primary malignant lymphoma of the bladder, two of high grade, and discuss the histological criteria that support their MALT nature.

Primary lymphoma of the ampulla of Vater

A 57-year-old woman was investigated for obstructive jaundice with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreaticography that showed a tumor at the ampulla of Vater. A Whipple's procedure was performed. A protuberant tumor was present at the ampulla of Vater in the background of multiple mucosal polyps in the duodenum. Light microscopy revealed a diffuse non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with centrocytelike cells forming lymphoepithelial lesions and infiltrating the sphincter of Oddi. The duodenal polyps were hyperplastic lymphoid follicles with reactive germinal centers. Immunohistochemical staining characterized the tumor as a B-cell neoplasm with IgA heavy-chain and lambda light-chain restrictions. Complete remission of the disease occurred after surgery. The clinical, histologic, and immunohistochemical features of this lymphoma are suggestive of histogenetic derivation from mucosal-associated tissue.