Gastrointestinal indolent B-cell lymphomas (GI-iBCLs) are a group of low-grade, slowly progressive malignancies, accounting for approximately 1–4% of all gastrointestinal tumors. They represent the most common type of extranodal indolent B-cell lymphoma. Their clinical presentation often overlaps with that of benign inflammatory conditions, posing diagnostic challenges. In recent years, the incidence of GI-iBCL has been increasing in Asia and Europe, while advances in molecular pathology have facilitated more precise classification. This review systematically summarizes recent progress in understanding the epidemiology, clinical features, pathogenesis, pathological characteristics, treatment, and prognosis of GI-iBCLs, with a specific focus on mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma and duodenal-type follicular lymphoma (DTFL). We also discuss critical issues such as the risk of histological transformation, treatment optimization for refractory cases, the potential of molecular markers, and the evolving landscape of precision medicine.
Zhao et al. (2026) studied this question.