ObjectiveTo study the clinical and pathological characteristics and imaging manifestations of pulmonary mucosa associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma.MethodsThe clinical and multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) imaging data of 17 patients with pathological proven pulmonary MALT lymphoma were reviewed retrospectively.ResultsThe MDCT manifestations were divided into 4 types: ① pneumonia/consolidation, ② mass/nodule type, ③ bronchovascular lymphatic type, ④ mixed type. The imaging features included air bronchiectasis in 13 cases and bronchiectasis in 9 cases. Multiple small pulmonary nodules were found in 11 cases, ground glass opacity in 9 cases, 4 cases of pleural effusion, pulmonary hilar and mediastinal lymph node enlargement in 3 cases. Among these 17 cases, 4 had extra-pulmonary involvement and 2 without obvious symptoms. The main clinical symptoms including cough, expectoration, dyspnea, fever, chest pain, hemoptysis, night sweats. The pathological manifestation is the infiltration of a large number of B lymphocytes and nuclear heterocells.ConclusionsThe clinical manifestations of pulmonary MALT lymphoma are not specific, but the progress is slow, and may be associated with autoimmune diseases. The main MDCT findings of pulmonary MALT lymphoma include consolidation, nodules or masses with air bronchogram. Lymph node enlargement is rare. Clinical diagnosis should also be based on pathological results.
