[Pulmonary MALT lymphoma with macroglobulinemia]

Abstract

An 84-year-old man was diagnosed as having pulmonary MALT lymphoma in January 1997. Six years later, he was admitted to our hospital with coughing and dyspnea in November 2003. Dissemination of MALT lymphoma was confirmed by findings of pleural effusion and bone marrow aspiration. A FISH analysis of cells from the pleural effusion revealed t(11;18)(q21;q21) and the serum level of IgM was 8,600 mg/dl (M-protein). The diagnosis of secondary macroglobulinemia was made. The patient received rituximab monotherapy because he was very elderly. Pleural effusion has not been seen after the administration of rituximab, although there have been no changes in the lung mass and serum values of M-protein.