Search

During the period of 1978-1988, 36 patients were treated for primary gastrointestinal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (PGIL) at the Second Department of Surgery, Helsinki University Central Hospital. There were 16 gastric, 15 small intestinal, four large bowel lymphomas, and one case of diffuse multiple lymphomatous polyposis (MLP) of the gastrointestinal tract. Most frequently the disease occurred in middle-aged patients equally in both sexes. Symptoms were non-specific. Abdominal pain was the most common symptom occurring in 30 patients (83%), followed by nausea in 17 patients (47%). Fever occurred in seven patients (20%). Bleeding occurred in ten patients (28%), obstruction in five (14%), and perforation in three patients (8%). An abdominal mass was felt in ten patients (28%). Radiological findings were mostly non-specific but suggested malignant tumour. A definitive diagnosis was difficult to confirm by endoscopic examination. Thirty-five patients underwent surgery, curative in 19 (12 gastric, five small intestine lymphomas (SIL), two large intestine lymphomas (LIL)), and palliative in 12 patients (two gastric, eight SIL, one LIL, and one case of MLP). One patient (gastric) underwent exploration and three had other procedures (two SIL, one LIL). 89% of the patients who had a curative resection survived five years, compared with 28% of those who had palliative resection. The stage of the disease was a very important prognostic factor: the five-year survival was 92% for patients with Stage I disease, while none of the patients with Stage IV disease survived five years. Also, adjuvant therapy was a statistically significant variable affecting survival, and the site of the tumour. Patients with gastric lymphoma had better survival than those with small and large intestinal lymphoma.

During the period of 1972-1977, 29 patients were treated for primary non-Hodgkin's small intestinal lymphoma (PSIL) in different hospitals in Finland. Most frequently the disease occurred in patients in middle age and there was a male predominance. Clinical symptoms were non-specific. An abdominal mass was felt in 31% of the patients. Radiological findings were mostly non-specific, and often a stricture was revealed. All patients underwent surgery, ten patients curative resection, 15 patients palliative resection and 4 patients exploration and biopsy only. Sixty per cent of the patients who underwent curative resection survived five years compared with ten per cent who underwent palliative resection. The stage of the disease was an important prognostic factor. The five-year survival was 60% for patients with stage I disease, while all the patients with stage IV disease died during the first two years.

During the period of 1972-1977 nine patients were treated for primary non-Hodgkin's ileocaecal and colorectal lymphoma in different hospitals in Finland. Most frequently the disease occurred in patients in the sixth or seventh decade. The clinical symptoms indicated non-specific intestinal disorder. An abdominal mass was felt in 44% of the patients. Radiological findings were mostly non-specific and often revealed a tumour. All patients underwent surgery, six curative resection, and three palliative resection. Two of the patients who underwent curative resection survived 10-13 years, while all the patients who underwent palliative resection died within two years. The stage of the disease was an important prognostic factor. Three of the five patients with stage I disease died of lymphoma, while all three patients with stage IV disease died of lymphoma.

Myxomas of the skeletal muscle are uncommon mesenchymal tumours. About one hundred such tumours have been reported in the world literature so far. In the present paper, we report a case of myxoma which occurred in the thigh muscles, with brief review of pertinent literature.

A 41-year-old female with intermittent abdominal pain and diarrhea for a period of three years was found to have eosinophilic enteritis. The patient has had neither a history of atopy nor peripheral eosinophilia, commonly reported in association with eosinophilic enteritis. The patient made a rapid clinical response to steroid therapy. The literature on eosinophilic gastroenteritis is reviewed.