Primary Follicular Lymphoma in the Rectum Incidentally Found on Screening Colonoscopy

Surgical Resection for Primary Rectal Lymphoma: Support for Local Excision?

BACKGROUND

Primary rectal lymphoma is an uncommon and heterogeneous malignancy. Because of its rarity, few data exist to guide treatment or counsel patients. We present the largest series to date of patients undergoing nonpalliative surgery for rectal lymphoma. We hypothesize that there will be no difference in overall survival between patients undergoing local resection (LR) or radical resection (RR).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The National Cancer Data Base was queried for all cases of resected primary rectal lymphoma between years 2004 and 2014. Exclusion criteria included patients with stage IV disease and those operated on for palliation. Patients were categorized by resection approach-LR or RR. Approach along with demographic, histologic, and hospital-level factors were analyzed with a Cox proportional hazard analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 233 patients were identified. Mean age was 63 y (interquartile range 53-73), and 57% of the population was female. The most common histologic subtypes were marginal (44%), diffuse large B-cell (20%), and follicular lymphoma (17%). Eighty-seven percent underwent LR. There was no significant difference in R0 resection (LR: 38% versus RR: 58%; P = 0.07), adjuvant chemotherapy (LR: 18% versus RR: 29%; P = 0.22), or adjuvant radiation (LR: 21% versus RR: 16%; P = 0.63) between the groups. Five-year overall survival was 79%, and there was no significant difference in approach (LR: 81% versus RR: 56%, P = 0.06). Multivariable analysis did not identify an association between approach and overall survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Surgical resection of rectal lymphoma is rare. Our data support consideration of LR when possible, given the lack of convincing survival benefit of radical surgery or R0 resection.

Primary Colonic Follicular Lymphoma Presenting as Four Diminutive Sessile Polyps Found Incidentally During Colonoscopy

Follicular lymphomas, which typically arise in the lymph nodes with spleen, liver, and bone marrow involvement, have generally low occurrence rates in Asian countries as compared with Western countries. Follicular lymphomas of the gastrointestinal tract are rare, and primary colonic follicular lymphomas are particularly rare compared with others found in the small intestine and duodenum. Colonoscopic imaging of colonic lymphomas, including follicular lymphoma, may reveal mucosal ulcerations, erosions, indurations, polypoid mass-like lesions, and diffuse mucosal nodularity. Herein, we report a unique case of a follicular lymphoma of the transverse colon characterized by four sessile diminutive polyps located intermittently with multiple lymph node involvement in a 62-year-old man.