Background: The optimal management of primary gastrointestinal tract lymphoma (GIT lymphoma) has not been clearly defined. The role of surgery in these cases remains controversial.
. The aim of this work :is to analyze the clinicopathological properties of primary GIT lymphoma, define lines of treatment and to detect outcome and variables affecting overall survival.
Patients and methods: 64 patients with primary GIT lymphoma presented to Sohag University Hospital and Assiut University Hospital from July 1994 to January 2000. This study outlines clinicopathological features, modalities of diagnosis and treatment, outcome and variables affecting overall survival.
Results: The median age of patients was 38 years, including 40 males and 24 females. The stomach was involved in 36 cases (56.3%) and intestinal lymphoma was implicated in 28 cases (43.7%). Stage IIE was the commonest stage (62.5%). The predominant histologic type was high-grade. Overall survival in all cases was 63% at 30 months according to the Kaplan-Meier method. Stage of disease, extension of resection, site of the lesion whether gastric or intestinal and achievement of complete remission (CR) were found to affect overall survival.
Conclusion: This study outlined clinicopathological features, modalities of diagnosis and treatment, outcome and variables affecting overall survival of primary GIT lymphoma. Earlier detection, optimal resection and chemotherapy plus efforts to achieve complete remission stand behind the success in management of GIT lymphoma
.