[Primary small intestinal Burkitt lymphoma treated with rituximab-combined CODOX-M/IVAC therapy without surgical resection].

A 38-year-old man complaining of abdominal pain was admitted to our hospital and diagnosed with small bowel obstruction. Whole body computed tomography(CT)scan showed moderate right pleural effusion with pleural and anterior chest wall thickening, with a mass approximately 100 mm in diameter at the terminal ileum. Histopathological and immunohistorical analysis of the endoscopic biopsy from the terminal ileum mass revealed diffuse infiltration of medium-sized, monotonous, atypical B lymphocytes with scanty basophilic cytoplasms carrying the so-called "starry sky" appearance, and primary small intestinal Burkitt lymphoma(BL)was diagnosed. Because of his advanced clinical stage(stage IV with Ann Arbor staging system)and the need for immediate treatment, he was promptly treated with cyclophosphamide and doxorubicin without surgical resection. Fortunately this initial therapy was received without the occurrence of bowel perforation. After initiating additional rituximab combined high-dose chemotherapy consisting of alternating courses of rituximab, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, and methotrexate(R-CODOX-M)and rituximab, ifosfamide, etoposide, and cytarabine(R-IVAC), he achieved complete remission and remains without signs of disease now more than seven years after his last treatment. While further investigation will of course be needed, if possible, immediate chemotherapy without surgical resection is a treatment worth considering for improving the prognosis of those with small intestinal BL.

[Splenic marginal zone lymphoma associated with autoimmune hemolytic anemia treated with splenectomy and rituximab].

A 51-year-old woman, who presented with dyspnea on effort and was diagnosed with autoimmune hemolytic anemia in July 2004, was suspected of having splenic marginal zone lymphoma (SMZL) because of clonality of B cell on bone marrow and splenomegaly. She underwent splenectomy, and histopathological examination of the resected specimen confirmed the diagnosis of SMZL. The patient was treated with rituximab, and complete remission was achieved. Up to the present, three years after diagnosis, the patient has shown no evidence of progression.