ABSTRACT
Gastrointestinal (GI) tract lymphomas are a heterogeneous group of disorders comprising ~10% of all non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas (NHL). Much interest is focused on these lymphomas, particularly mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphomas as it represents a model through which antigen-mediated lymphomagenesis can be studied. For GI tract lymphomas as a whole, therapeutic options other than surgery have become the mainstay of treatment. This chapter will examine the different subtypes of NHL involving the GI tract; define the underlying pathogenesis of MALT lymphomas; and consider the options of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and antibiotics as definitive treatment approaches for the common histologic subtypes of NHL involving the GI tract.
