Background-While a close association between gastric mucosa associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma andHelicobacter pylori infection has been established, there are still cases which do not respond to H pylori eradication. Aims-To investigate the clinicopathological factors which may help predict the therapeutic eYcacy of H pylori eradication in gastric MALT lymphoma. Patients-Forty one patients with gastric MALT lymphoma, including low and high grade lesions. Methods-After endosonographic staging was determined, H pylori was eradicated in all patients, and the subsequent gastric pathological course was then investigated. Results-Complete regression of MALT lymphoma was observed in 29(71%) patients, partial regression in five (12%), and no regression in seven (17%). Twenty six (93%) of 28 MALT lymphomas restricted to the mucosa but only three (23%) of 13 lymphomas which invaded the deep portion of the submucosa or beyond completely regressed. Kaplan-Meier analysis for the probability of complete regression of MALT lymphoma revealed a significant diVerence between tumours restricted to the mucosa and those invading the submucosa deeply or beyond (p<0.05). Neither the presence of a high grade component, perigastric lymphadenopathy, nor clinical staging prior to eradication correlated with the probability of lymphoma regression. Conclusions-Assessment of deep submucosal invasion by endosonography is valuable for predicting the eYcacy of H pylori eradication in gastric MALT lymphoma. (Gut 2001;48:454-460)

Aims: To evaluate the chromosomal translocation t(11;18)(q21;q21) in gastrointestinal lymphomas. Methods: A possible API2-MLT fusion transcript specific to t(11;18)(q21;q21) was examined by means of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in tumours from 47 cases of primary gastrointestinal lymphoma (28 low grade mucosa associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphomas, four low grade MALT lymphomas with a high grade component, nine secondary diffuse large B cell lymphomas, four primary diffuse large B cell lymphomas, and two T cell lymphomas). Results: API2-MLT fusion was seen in four of 28 cases of low grade MALT lymphoma, but it was not seen in other types of lymphoma. Among the low grade MALT lymphomas, the fusion transcript was seen more frequently in colonic tumours than in gastric tumours (two of three compared with two of 24) and in tumours with submucosal invasion than in those confined to the mucosa (four of 13 compared with 0 of 15). Helicobacter pylori negative tumours tended to show a higher positive rate than H pylori positive tumours (three of six compared with one of 21). None of the gastric tumours that responded to H pylori eradication expressed the API2-MLT fusion transcript. Conclusions: t(11;18)(q21;q21) seems to be one of the genetic alterations related to the development of gastrointestinal low grade MALT lymphoma. Such translocations may be predominantly associated with the development of intestinal MALT lymphoma.

FGP without FAC is characterized by spontaneous decrease or increase in the number of polyps, especially in middle-aged female patients with a large number of polyps.

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