Bleeding, obstruction, and perforation in a series of patients with aggressive gastric lymphoma treated with primary chemotherapy

Galia Spectre*, Diana Libster, Sigal Grisariu, Nael Da'as, Dina Ben Yehuda, Zvi Gimmon, Ora Paltiel

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

28 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: The management of patients with gastric lymphoma has evolved, with a shift toward nonsurgical treatment. The rates of surgical complications in patients receiving chemotherapy have been insufficiently studied. The objective of this study was to assess the frequency of bleeding, perforation, and gastric outlet obstruction in patients who received chemotherapy as primary treatment for gastric diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Methods: We reviewed files of all patients with gastric DLBCL who were diagnosed and treated primarily with chemotherapy in our hospital between 1990 and 2005. Results: Eighteen (25%) of 73 patients experienced surgical complications, of whom 6 (8%) underwent surgery. Eight patients (11%), six with active lymphoma, experienced gastric bleeding; one required gastrectomy. Eight patients (11%) developed gastric outlet obstruction, of whom three were treated conservatively, three required surgery, one stopped treatment, and one received further chemotherapy. Six of the eight patients had no evidence of active lymphoma at the time of obstruction. Two additional patients underwent gastrectomy due to resistant or relapsed disease. Gastric perforation was not observed. Median survival was 90 months for the entire series, 94 months for patients with gastric outlet obstruction, and 11.5 months for patients with gastric bleeding. Conclusions: Given the rate of surgical complications, especially gastric bleeding and gastric outlet obstruction, there is still an important role for the surgical consultant in the treatment of patients with gastric DLBCL receiving chemotherapy. Gastric perforation, although frequently cited as a complication, is in fact rarely observed.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1372-1378
Number of pages7
JournalAnnals of Surgical Oncology
Volume13
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2006
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Chemotherapy
  • Diffuse large B cell lymphoma
  • Gastric
  • Surgical complications

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