Comparisons of Surgery and/or Chemotherapy in the Treatment of Primary Pulmonary Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue Lymphoma.

BACKGROUND/AIMS To investigate the clinical features, imaging characteristics, treatment, and prognosis of primary pulmonary mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma. METHODS We retrospectively analysed the clinical, imaging, and follow-up data of 13 patients (median age, 59 years; range, 21-67 years) with primary pulmonary MALT lymphoma. RESULTS The main clinical manifestations were chest discomfort (six patients), cough (two), fever (two), chest pain (one), and no obvious symptoms (two). Six patients underwent surgery; three had postoperative chemotherapy; four had chemotherapy alone; and three only had symptomatic and supportive treatment. The follow-up duration was one to 11 years, with one patient lost to follow-up. Two patients died (two years and 11 years post-diagnosis). As of this report, the remaining 10 patients were alive with no disease progression. CONCLUSIONS Pulmonary MALT lymphoma has atypical clinical manifestations and non-specific imaging changes, and the diagnosis depends on a pathological examination. For patients with confined lesions for which conventional biopsy cannot be performed, surgical excision plays an important role in clarifying the diagnosis and obtaining good therapeutic results and a good prognosis.