In 147 gastrectomy specimens examined between 1989-1993, a diagnosis of Malt lymphoma was made in 10 patients (6.8%), adenocarcinoma is 59 (40%) and 4 patients suffered from mesenchymal tumors.

All cases of lymphoid neoplasia had the features of B cell type Malt lymphoma 7 low grade and 3 high grade in stages I 2E-II 2E. They occur almost one decade earlier than adenocarcinomas, in equal frequency between the sexes and there is definite increase in incidence compared to older published data. All patients were treated with postoperative chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy and 8/10 patients are alive regardless of stage from 18 to 70 months.

The histological and immunohistochemical features have been studied in comparison with the international literature data and the current concepts of pathogenetic mechanisms and biological behaviour are discussed.

Key words: Stomach, lymphoma, incidence, characters, MALT.

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