DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS BETWEEN PRIMARY MALIGNANT LYMPHOMA AND REACTIVE LYMPHORETICULAR HYPERPLASIA OF THE STOMACH

Abstract

We compared the differences in the clinical features, pathological findings, endoscopic findings as well as biopsy diagnoses between primary malignant lymphoma (ML) (57 cases) and reactive lymphoreticular hyperplasia of the stomach (RLH) (27 cases) in the resected stomachs. The results were as follows 1) There were no age difference among them. Mean age of patients with ML was a little older than that of patients with RLH. 2) The lesions were most frequent on the greater curvature and posterior wall in ML, while, in RLH, on lesser curvature. 3) Macroscopically, superficial type and ulcer type were dominant in ML, while in RLH superficial type was. 4) The accurate diagnosis of both ML and RLH was made infrequetly on the initial endoscopy. 5) Diagnosis of ML by initial biopsy evaluation was definitely made in 81.3%, while that of RLH in 38.9%. 6) As to endoscopic findings of ML, milky white thick coat, thinwalled marginal elevation and cobblestone appearance were frequent, while, in RLH, ulcer with discolored marginal elevation, patchy depression of the mucosa and diffuse reddish branular changes in discolored area were frequent.