Objective: Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection in children is a frequent findings. Part of these patients may be asymptomatic and the rest with different gastrointestinal signs and symptoms.
In endoscopy the presenting signs are nodular gastritis, gastric & duodenal ulcers and gastric cancer
In histology with H& E staining we may find helicobacter pylori filaments on epithelial surface, acute and chronic gastritis, intestinal metaplasia changes, MALT lymphoma cells and cancer cells. These proliferative changes are very rare in children
We present three children aged 13-16 years old with recurrent upper abdominal pain which were diagnosed histologically with Gastric MALT Lymphoma treated against helicobacter pylori infection with disappearance of the bacteria and tumor
Patients and methods: Three children aged 13-16 years old suffered from recurrent abdominal pain without vomiting, diarrhea, high grade temperature, sweeting or loss of weight.
On endoscopy swelling antral mucosa was present with irregular surface occupying all prepyloric area without nodular gastritis or gastric ulcers.
Histologic staining with H& E showed multiple HP elements on epithelial surface, large amount of lymphoma cells & lymphoepithelial lesions, positive for Kappa light chain staining and negative for Lamda light chain staining consistent for MALT lymphoma
Patients were treated for 10 days with triple therapy with disappearance of HP in breath test .Repeated endoscopies and histologic findings were within normal findings during follow-up of 3-5 years
Conclusions: MALT Lymphoma must be diagnosed and treated also in teenagers.
