Malt Lymphoma and H.Pylori

[Bhrea23]

March of 07 I miscarried and had to get a D & C done, well then after that happened I started having horrible abdominal pain, went to the doctor and I was tested positive for H.Pylori.  Took the treatment for that and still was having pains.  Ended up in the ER twice for it and they told me I just had chronic abdominal pain and to take a tylenol.  Went back to my family doctor and she sent me to the gastroenterologist where they did an endsocopy on me and I was diagnosed with Malt Lymphoma.  They put me on a treatment of pills for a month and then I got kicked off of my insurance and have not been able to do the follow up due to money. The abdominal pain has only gotten worse and I have been getting migraines at least once a week.  I dont know what to do anymore as I wont go to the hospital in my hometown.  I am trying to get ahold of the Phoenix hospitals and see if they can see if the Malt Lymphoma has spread or anything. Am I doing the right thing??

[Dennis MD]

Hi.
Thanks for the update.
It’s good to know that a possibility of brain involvement is ruled out based on your doctor’s evaluation.  That is the value of having a patient physically examined.  Perhaps your frequent migraine attacks aggravated the dizziness you felt the other night.
You will have your blood examined as well as an endoscopy.  This will help determine your response to therapy.  Hopefully the result will turn out good.
Stay positive.

[Bhrea23]

I went today and the doctor said she didnt think I needed a CT Scan or anything as she doesnt think I passed out.  So I go in tomorrow morning for some blood work to see whats going on.  I go in next tuesday for the endoscopy as well.  

[Dennis MD]

Hi.
I’m sorry to hear what happened to you last night.
Dizziness is a nonspecific symptom and can be caused by a lot of disease conditions.  In the setting of malignancy, a possibility of brain involvement can be entertained.  
I would suggest consult with your oncologist.  A cranial CT scan or MRI can be done to rule out possible brain involvement.
Please do post your updates.
Good luck.  

[Bhrea23]

Does anyone know if Malt Lymphoma can cause you to be dizzy???  Last night while holding a gate open I got really dizzy and then collapsed to the ground.  Today my arms feel reallly heavy, more my left than right.  Im waiting for the doctor to call me back on whats wrong....but I'm curious if the lymphoma can cause this.  

[Bhrea23]

I will be going back in sometime next week to get another endoscopy done and to see what the next treatment is.  I was put on the H.Pylori antibiotics right when they found out that is what I had.  After I got my endoscopy done they had put me on a months treatment.  Obviously these pills are not working and its not making me any better, just worse.  So hopefully I get the answers that I am looking for.  I just wish I could have a normal 20 year olds life and not this one dealing with all this pain so much.  If I were you I would see about getting a second opinion from another doctor and see if you can get new answers to your health.  Thats what I would do if I felt I was not getting the medical help I should be recieving.  I finally found a good doctor in my area that actually listens to me and understands what pain I am talking about.

Hope all goes well for you and I wish you the best of luck!

[Dennis MD]

Hi Jamie.
The stomach is the most frequent site for MALT lymphoma.  Other sites where MALT lymphoma can occur include the lung, thyroid, salivary gland, orbits of the eye, skin, and soft tissues.  I’m assuming you have gastric MALT lymphoma since the mass was found during your endoscopy.  
Optimal treatment for gastric MALT lymphoma is still unknown.  If you are positive for H. pylori, antibiotic treatment can be given.  If there is still persistent disease after antibiotic treatment, radiation therapy can be given.  If you are negative for H. pylori, antibiotic treatment will not be beneficial.  Radiation therapy is then given.
What I can recommend now is you go back to your doctor for work-ups to see the extent of the disease now.  Perhaps the reason behind your frequent urinary tract infection is involvement of extranodal site by MALT lymphoma, especially if it involves the lymph nodes near the urinary tract.
Good luck.

[crow3217]

Why is it that nothing much is done for MALT? I was diagnosed in March 2007, was given the antibiotics, given a 2nd endoscopy at the end of May, and the tumor hadnt changed. No other treatment was given except to stay on the Prilosec. I have had 10 UTI's in the past year, which i NEVER had before, i had a staph infection in my leg in November, still have serious fatigue and itchiness and pain.... i'm now being treated for thyroid but just recently found a lump in my breast about the size of a pea... there have been no rechecks on endoscopy. I have had no PET scan, just 2 ct scans. i've also had 2 bone marrow biopsy's that came out clean, but have had alot of issues with my blood work really being outta whack, like Platelets that dropped to 60. Why am I not seeing any action just cuz I have MALT? I feel like MALT doesnt matter and i'm soo sick all of the time with fissures, UTI's, and other issues that i never had before.
Jamie

[Dennis MD]

Hi.
In MALT lymphoma, the stomach is the most frequent site.  Many patients have history of H pylori infection.  
The standard treatment for patients with gastric MALT who are positive for H pylori infection is antibiotics.  Follow-up endoscopy is performed after 3 to 6 months.  If there is a complete response, no further treatment is needed.  If there is partial response, a second course of antibiotic can be given.  Chemotherapy is reserved for patients with advanced disease or recurrent disease.
Perhaps it is best to consult any hospital of your choice for proper treatment.  
Good luck.