Comparisons of Surgery and/or Chemotherapy in the Treatment of Primary Pulmonary Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue Lymphoma

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To investigate the clinical features, imaging characteristics, treatment, and prognosis of primary pulmonary mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma. METHODS: We retrospectively analysed the clinical, imaging, and follow-up data of 13 patients (median age, 59 years; range, 21-67 years) with primary pulmonary MALT lymphoma. RESULTS: The main clinical manifestations were chest discomfort (six patients), cough (two), fever (two), chest pain (one), and no obvious symptoms (two). Six patients underwent surgery; three had postoperative chemotherapy; four had chemotherapy alone; and three only had symptomatic and supportive treatment. The follow-up duration was one to 11 years, with one patient lost to follow-up. Two patients died (two years and 11 years post-diagnosis). As of this report, the remaining 10 patients were alive with no disease progression. CONCLUSIONS: Pulmonary MALT lymphoma has atypical clinical manifestations and non-specific imaging changes, and the diagnosis depends on a pathological examination. For patients with confined lesions for which conventional biopsy cannot be performed, surgical excision plays an important role in clarifying the diagnosis and obtaining good therapeutic results and a good prognosis.