Table 1.
Clinical characteristics of patients with primary pulmonary MALT lymphoma (total n = 42)
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Age, years, median (range) | 63.0 (39.0–87.0) |
| Age ≥70, n (%) | 11 (26.2) |
| Sex, n (%) | |
| Male | 23 (54.8) |
| Female | 19 (45.2) |
| Diagnostic methodology, n (%) | |
| VATS surgery | 21 (50.0) |
| VATS wedge resection | 12 (28.6) |
| VATS lobectomy | 9 (21.4) |
| CT-guided percutaneous lung biopsy | 11 (26.2) |
| Transbronchial lung biopsy | 10 (23.8) |
| ECOG performance status, n (%) | |
| 0–1 | 40 (93.2) |
| 2–4 | 2 (4.8) |
| Lactate dehydrogenase, IU/L, median (range) | 383.0 (143.0–550.0) |
| Normal, n (%) | 31 (73.8) |
| Elevated, n (%) | 11 (26.2) |
| B symptom, n (%) | |
| No | 33 (78.6) |
| Yes | 9 (21.4) |
| Initial cytopenia, n (%) | |
| Leukopenia | 5 (11.9) |
| Anemia | 13 (30.9) |
| Thrombocytopenia | 2 (4.8) |
| Clinical symptom at presentation, n (%) | |
| Cough | 18 (42.9) |
| Sputum | 16 (38.1) |
| Dyspnea | 4 (9.5) |
| Chest tightness | 3 (7.1) |
| Hemoptysis | 2 (4.8) |
| Smoking status, n (%) | |
| Never smoker | 26 (61.9) |
| Smoker | 16 (38.1) |
| Peak-per-year, median (range) | 15.0 (2.0–40.0) |
| Comorbidities, n (%) | |
| Hypertension | 14 (33.3) |
| Old pulmonary TB sequelae | 10 (23.8) |
| Previous malignancya | 7 (16.7) |
| Autoimmune diseaseb | 3 (7.1) |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease | 3 (7.1) |
| Diabetes mellitus, type 2 | 2 (4.8) |
| TB destroyed lung | 2 (4.8) |
| Hepatitis B profile, n (%) | |
| HBsAb(−) HBsAg(+) HBcAb IgG(+) | 3 (7.2) |
| HBsAb(−) HBsAg(−) HBcAb IgG (+) | 5 (11.9) |
| HBsAb(+) HBsAg(−) HBcAb IgG(+) | 13 (30.9) |
| HBsAb(+) HBsAg(−) HBcAb IgG (−) | 17 (40.5) |
| HBsAb(−) HBsAg(−) HBcAb IgG (−) | 4 (9.5) |
| Anti-HCV Ab, n (%) | 2 (4.8) |
| MALT-IPI score, n (%) | |
| Low risk | 14 (33.3) |
| Intermediate risk | 20 (47.6) |
| High risk | 8 (19.1) |
| Radiological findings, n (%) | |
| Single nodular or consolidation | 19 (45.2) |
| Multiple nodular or consolidation | 16 (38.1) |
| Diffuse interstitial lung disease | 4 (9.5) |
| Bronchiectasis and bronchiolitis | 3 (7.1) |
| Modified Ann Arbor stage | |
| Localized stage, n (%) | |
| IE | 14 (33.3) |
| IIE | 11 (26.2) |
| Advanced stage, n (%) | |
| III | 7 (16.7) |
| IVc | 10 (23.8) |
Anti-HCV Ab, anti-hepatitis C virus antibody; CT, computed tomography; ECOG, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group; HBcAb, hepatitis B core antibody; HBsAb, hepatitis B surface antibody; HBsAg, hepatitis B surface antigen; IU, international unit; MALT, mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue; MALT-IPI, marginal zone lymphoma of MALT-international prognostic index; TB, tuberculosis; VATS, video-assisted thoracic surgery.
aTwo early cases of gastric cancer and thyroid cancer, and each one of renal cell carcinoma, supraglottic squamous cell carcinoma, and multiple myeloma.
bTwo cases of rheumatoid arthritis and one case of systemic lupus erythematosus.
cAll stage IV diagnosed patients presented with extra-lymphatic organ or tissue involvement (4 of bone marrow, 2 of tonsils, 2 of nasopharynx, 1 of thyroid, and 1 of perirenal mass) without related symptoms. Biopsies of these extra-lymphatic involved organs or tissues confirmed them as MALT lymphoma, with no evidence of high-grade transformation.