Primary extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of MALT type of the endometrium

Background. Only one case of primary extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) of the endometrium has been previously reported. Case. A 65-year old patient presented with postmenopausal bleeding. She was found to have endometrial polyps. The endometrial curettings showed a dense lymphoid infiltrate that was suggestive of a lymphoproliferative disorder. Histological examination of the total abdominal hysterectomy revealed primary extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma (MALT-type lymphoma) of the endometrium. The diagnosis was supported by morphology, immunohistochemistry, and molecular analysis. Conclusion. Extranodal MALT lymphoma of the endometrium is exceptionally rare although the female genital tract is rich in mucosa and the presence of MALT tissue has been previously described. The diagnosis of lymphoproliferative disorder in this case was initially made on endometrial curettings. Although most lymphoid aggregates within endometrial curettings are due to reactive conditions such as endometritis, the possibility of lymphoma must be kept in mind when dense lymphoid aggregates or atypical lymphoid cells are present in the curettings. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.