Marginal Zone Lymphomas

Subtypes: MALT(Extranodal), Nodal, Splenic

Marginal Zone Lymphomas are related cancers of the lymphatic system - a complex system of
lymph organs, including the bone marrow, thymus, spleen, and the lymph nodes.

What is lymphoma?

Lymphoma is a cancer. Briefly, lymphomas result when damage or changes occurs to an

immune cell (a lymphocyte) that alters the behavior of the cells. The damage to DNA results in
the abnormal production of proteins that prevents the cells from dying when they should, or
causes sustained rapid cell division that produces more of its kind. The malignant cells then may
accumulate to form tumors that may enlarge the lymph nodes or spread to other areas of
the lymphatic system, such as the spleen or bone marrow. Lymphoma can also spread or first
appear outside the lymphatic system - and is called extranodal disease.

The word "marginal zone" describes the cell type. B-cells arise from the bone marrow and
mature or differentiate into many cell types that tend to migrate to different areas of the body in
order to defend against pathogens (viruses, bacteria, etc.).

Incidence: Marginal Zone Lymphoma is a relatively uncommon type of b-cell lymphoma,

comprising approximately 2-4% of all cases. There are about 61,000 new cases of NH-
Lymphomas diagnosed annually. Therefore, there are approximately 1,000 to 2,300 new cases of
marginal zone NH-Lymphomas diagnosed annually.

At the genetic level (DNA), recent cytogenetic studies have shown that t(11;18) is a recurring
abnormality in MALT-type Marginal Zone Cell Lymphoma but has hitherto never been reported in
Nodal or Splenic Marginal Zone Lymphomas.

MALT Lymphoma
MALT stands for Mucosa-Associated Lymphatic Tissue Lymphomas.

MALT is a type of Marginal zone lymphomas. The abnormal cells can accumulate in areas
outside the lymph nodes, typically in mucosa tissue, such as the gastrointestinal tract, breast,
lung, thyroid, salivary glands, eye, skin or soft tissues, or the skin.

What is the outlook (prognosis) for MALT?

"The outlook for people with gastric [and other ] MALT lymphoma is usually good with about 80%
of people surviving beyond the 5 year milestone and 77% going on to have disease free survival
at 10 years"

Which organs of the body are affected?

The most commonly affected organ is the stomach, which accounts for nearly 2 out of every 3
cases. But other organs are also affected by MALT lymphoma. The lung, thyroid, salivary glands
and the eye may also be affected by this lymphoma.

What causes MALT lymphoma?

MALT lymphomas of the stomach are associated with a bacterial infection. Helicobacter pylori is
a type of bacteria that commonly infects the stomach and causes ulcers and gastritis. In some
individuals it can also cause MALT lymphomas. The cause of MALT lymphomas in other organs
is not well understood.

How does MALT lymphoma behave?

MALT lymphomas are low grade lymphomas. They grow slowly and remain confined to one
organ for a relatively long time. The majority of patients with MALT lymphoma are diagnosed
early, before the disease has spread to other organs and lymph nodes.