A case of Helicobactor pylori negative low-grade gastric MALT lymphoma in an elderly female, successfully treated with rituximab

PATIENT Female, 91 FINAL DIAGNOSIS: Low-grade gastric MALT lymphoma Symptoms: Recurrent epigastric and right upper quadrant dyscomfort Medication: Rituximab Clinical Procedure: esophagogastroduodenoscopy • gastric biopsy Specialty: Gastroenterology. OBJECTIVE Unusual or unexpected effect of treatment. BACKGROUND Mucosa associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma can occur in any extranodal organ or tissue, stomach being the common site. Most of the gastric MALT lymphomas are related to chronic H. pylori infection. H. pylori negative gastric MALT lymphoma is relatively uncommon and usually treated with a short course of chemotherapy, radiotherapy or surgery. CASE REPORT Herein, we present a case of an elderly female with H. pylori negative, low-grade gastric MALT lymphoma that was successfully treated with a short course of rituximab. CONCLUSIONS This case report emphasizes that rituximab monotherapy can be an effective treatment for H. pylori negative low grade gastric MALT lymphoma especially in an elderly patient where surgery or radiotherapy may not be appropriate.