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World J Gastroenterol. Mar 28, 2006; 12(12): 1945-1948
Published online Mar 28, 2006. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v12.i12.1945
Clinical characteristics of a group of adults with nodular lymphoid hyperplasia: A single center experience
Alberto Rubio-Tapia, Jorge Hernández-Calleros, Sagrario Trinidad-Hernández, Luis Uscanga
Alberto Rubio-Tapia, Jorge Hernández-Calleros, Luis Uscanga, Department of Gastroenterology, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Medicas y Nutricion Salvador Zubiran (INNSZ), Mexico City, Mexico
Sagrario Trinidad-Hernández, Department of Pathology, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Medicas y Nutricion Salvador Zubiran (INNSZ), Mexico City, Mexico
Correspondence to: Alberto Rubio Tapia, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, INNSZ, Vasco de Quiroga 15, Tlalpan 14000, Distrito Federal, México. albertorubio.md@gmail.com
Telephone: +52-55-55733418 Fax: +52-55-56066222
Received: August 4, 2005
Revised: August 20, 2005
Accepted: August 24, 2005
Published online: March 28, 2006
Abstract

AIM: To describe the clinical and histological characteristics of a group of adults with small-bowel nodular lymphoid hyperplasia (NLH).

METHODS: Patients were searched for five years in pathology records of our institution. The biopsy material was reassessed using strict histopathological criteria. Clinical data were obtained from medical records.

RESULTS: Small-bowel NLH was diagnosed in 18 cases. The female: male ratio was 2∶1. The most frequent symptoms were diarrhea (72%), involuntary weight loss (72%) and abdominal pain (61%). Nine patients (50%) had immunodeficiency. Small-bowel bacterial overgrowth was found in three (17%) cases. At small-bowel NLH diagnosis, three (17%) had associated lymphoma: two intestinal and one extra-intestinal lymphomas. In two patients with villous atrophy and anti-endomysial antibodies the diagnosis of celiac disease was established. Giardia lamblia infection was found in only one patient with hypogammaglobulinemia (Herman’s syndrome).

CONCLUSIONS: NLH is uncommon in adult patients. Associated diseases are immunodeficiency and lymphoid tissue malignancies.

Keywords: Nodular lymphoid hyperplasia; Hypogammaglobulinemia; Lymphoma