Challenges in the diagnosis of marginal zone lymphoma with symptoms of small intestinal disease: a case report and scoping review of the literature.

Markopoulos, Konstantinos; Bührer, Emanuel; Banz, Yara; Dawson, Heather; Engelbrecht, Swantje; Essig, Manfred; Misselwitz, Benjamin (2022). Challenges in the diagnosis of marginal zone lymphoma with symptoms of small intestinal disease: a case report and scoping review of the literature. Journal of gastrointestinal oncology, 13(5), pp. 2583-2607. AME Publishing 10.21037/jgo-22-74

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Background

Marginal zone lymphoma can be accompanied by symptoms of small intestinal disease including abdominal pain and malabsorption. However, the best diagnostic approach for suspected marginal zone lymphoma is unknown and intestinal biopsies are frequently negative. We describe the case of a patient with symptoms of small bowel involvement where marginal zone lymphoma could only be detected upon peripheral lymph node resection. To assess the clinical variability of intestinal marginal zone lymphoma as a rare clinical entity, a scoping review with systematic literature research was performed.

Methods

A 57-year-old man presented with a 10-year history of postprandial abdominal pain, systemic inflammation and recent weight loss. Endoscopies and a surgical small bowel specimen revealed non-specific findings. Flow cytometry from the bone marrow was highly suspicious for marginal zone lymphoma. A 2-18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (2-18F-FDG-PET/CT) showed hypermetabolic lymph nodes on both sides of the diaphragm. Cervical lymph node dissection finally confirmed marginal zone lymphoma. Immunochemotherapy yielded lasting oncological remission and resolved symptoms. We searched PubMed, Embase and Ovid MEDLINE® for additional case reports limited to the last 25 years. Five primary search terms combined using "AND" were used freely and as controlled vocabulary. Additional studies were identified by reviewing the reference lists of included articles.

Results

Our review revealed 52 cases of marginal zone lymphoma with small intestinal manifestation. Patients presented with abdominal pain, bowel obstruction, weight loss or gastrointestinal bleeding. Diagnosis was mainly established by surgery (73%). The most frequent endoscopic findings were mucosal erosions and ulcerations. A 2-18F-FDG-PET/CT was positive in 9/15 patients. Treatment included rituximab, chemotherapy, surgery and/or radiation resulting in clinical remission in 82% of cases.

Conclusions

Diagnostic workup for suspected small intestinal marginal zone lymphoma is challenging, necessitating a multidisciplinary approach. Endoscopy, imaging including 2-18F-FDG-PET/CT and small bowel resection or dissection of hypermetabolic lymph nodes can be useful. If marginal zone lymphoma is suspected vigorous diagnostic efforts are justified since remission can be achieved in most patients. Our review highlights the variable clinical presentation of this underdiagnosed disease and adds systematic data to the literature.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Review Article)

Division/Institute:

04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Radiology, Neuroradiology and Nuclear Medicine (DRNN) > Clinic of Nuclear Medicine
04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Gastro-intestinal, Liver and Lung Disorders (DMLL) > Clinic of Visceral Surgery and Medicine > Gastroenterology
04 Faculty of Medicine > Service Sector > Institute of Pathology
04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Gastro-intestinal, Liver and Lung Disorders (DMLL) > Clinic of Visceral Surgery and Medicine
04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Haematology, Oncology, Infectious Diseases, Laboratory Medicine and Hospital Pharmacy (DOLS) > Clinic of Medical Oncology

UniBE Contributor:

Bührer, Emanuel, Banz Wälti, Yara Sarah, Dawson, Heather, Engelbrecht, Swantje, Essig, Manfred, Misselwitz, Benjamin

Subjects:

600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health
500 Science > 570 Life sciences; biology

ISSN:

2078-6891

Publisher:

AME Publishing

Language:

English

Submitter:

Pubmed Import

Date Deposited:

21 Nov 2022 17:02

Last Modified:

02 Mar 2023 23:36

Publisher DOI:

10.21037/jgo-22-74

PubMed ID:

36388684

Uncontrolled Keywords:

2-18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (2-18F-FDG-PET/CT) Small bowel case report endoscopy marginal zone lymphoma (MZL)

BORIS DOI:

10.48350/174875

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/174875

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