What is maltoma?

Answer 1

Mucosa-associated lymphatic tissue lymphomas (MALT or MALToma)
This means that the disease starts in glandular tissue outside the lymphatic system proper. In other words, it crops up in the body organs and not in the lymph nodes. These low grade lymphomas are most often diagnosed in the stomach. But they can also develop in the lung, thyroid, salivary glands, eye, skin or soft tissues. It is most often diagnosed in people in their 60’s. But cases are sometimes found in people in their 20’s or 30’s.

People diagnosed with MALT lymphoma of the salivary gland have often had an autoimmune disease in the past called Sjogren’s syndrome. Similarly, people with thyroid MALT may have had a similar condition of the thyroid called Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.

MALT is usually slow growing. Most people have early stage (localised) disease when they are diagnosed. The outlook is good, even when the disease is quite widespread.

Answer 2

My sister has had this for about 10 years. She has had it relapse 3 times so she has had 2 series of chemotherapy and an autologos stem cell transplant.She almost died from that. It relapsed after that and she is treating it again she may have developed pre-leukemia as a result of high doses of chemo and may possibly need a donor transplant soon. I am the donor on standby. sorry to give such a grim story but one brightspot most of the time you could hardly tell she was so sick, but she is 1 tough cookie.

Answer 3

MALTomas stand for mucosal associated lymphoid tissue. (tumors) These are the extra-nodal equivalent of monocytoid (marginal zone) B-cell lymphomas occurring in lymphoid organs such as the lymph node. These lymphomas arise in numerous extranodal sites such as the stomach, salivary gland and thyroid, most of which lack native lymphoid tissue but acquire MALT in close association with chronic inflammation or autoimmune processes. MALT lymphomas appear to have similar clinical, pathological and molecular features regardless of organs of origin

Answer 4

MALT means mucosa associated lymphoid tissue.This tissue is found in the layers of the intestines and stomach.These tissues can grow or hypertrophy to form tumour like masses in response to infective or non infective inflammation.They can mimic lymphomas or cancer

Answer 5

MALT lymphoma (or MALToma) is a relatively rare form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Most NHL develops in the lymph nodes (nodal lymphoma). MALT lymphoma starts in Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue, which is lymphatic tissue that is found in other parts of the body such as the stomach, thyroid gland, lungs or the eyes, and is therefore known as extranodal lymphoma.

MALT lymphoma is a cancer of the B-cell lymphocytes. It belongs to the group of marginal zone B-cell lymphomas. Marginal zone lymphoma can be either 'nodal' or 'extranodal'. MALT lymphoma is an extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma. We also produce information about nodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma.
MALT lymphoma accounts for about 1 in 20 of all cases of lymphoma. It can occur at any age from early adulthood to old age, but is more common in people over 60. It is slightly more common in women than in men.








Diagram showing lymphatic system




Causes of MALT
Many MALT lymphomas affecting the stomach are caused by a type of bacteria called Helicobacter pylori (see Treatment section).The causes of MALT lymphoma in other parts of the body are unknown. MALT lymphoma, like other cancers, is not infectious and cannot be passed on to other people.




Signs and symptoms
The stomach is the most common site for MALT lymphoma, but it may also occur in the lung, the thyroid, salivary gland and other organs such as the intestine.

The symptoms caused by the cancer will vary depending on which organ is affected. When MALT lymphoma develops in the stomach, it may cause symptoms such as indigestion, bleeding into the stomach, and weight loss. Some people experience a loss of appetite and tiredness.






Maltoma of Lung in a Glass Blower




How it is diagnosed
If you have digestive symptoms such as feeling sick, or pain in the area of your stomach, the doctor will arrange for you to have a flexible tube passed down your gullet and into the stomach (endoscopy). Photographs can then be taken of the stomach, and a small sample of cells is taken for examination under a microscope (biopsy).

Additional tests, including blood tests, x-rays, scans and bone marrow samples, are then used to get more information about the type of lymphoma, and how far it has spread in the body. This information is used to help decide which treatment is most appropriate for you.






The stage of MALT lymphoma describes whether the lymphoma is affecting only one area of the body – for example, the stomach – or whether it has spread to anywhere else in the body.

It is rare for MALT lymphoma to spread to the lymph nodes, but it can. If it does, the stage refers to how many groups of lymph nodes are affected, where they are in the body, and whether other organs are affected.

Grading

For practical purposes, non-Hodgkin lymphomas are also divided into two groups: low- and high-grade. Low-grade lymphomas are usually slow-growing, and high-grade lymphomas tend to grow more quickly.

MALT lymphoma is usually low-grade and slow-growing. However, it can sometimes change (transform) to a high-grade.



hope this helps explain what it is.

Answer 6

This term must be a new one. It was not in use any more than a lot of the abbreviation I see here during all my years of practice of hematology and oncology.

Answer 7

maltoma