[Primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the stomach (a rare case of extensive spread to the entire organ)].

Primary gastric lymphoma is the most frequent extra nodal primary site for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and is itself uncommon. Moreover, a massive infiltration of all stomach (from cardias to antrum) simulating a linitis plastica, it's rare. We present a case report of this atypical presentation of primary gastric NHL in a 73 year old females. The patient came to our observation complaining of dyspepsia, epigastric pain and vomiting from 7 months associated with weight loss and asthenia. Physical examination revealed an epigastric palpable mass. Computed tomographic findings has been necessary to confirm that the massive infiltration of gastric wall (from cardias to pylorus) was ascribed to lymphoma. Dawson's criteria was respected to define primary gastric NHL and was performed a total gastrectomy with systematic lymphadenectomy. The histopathological evidences have confirmed clinical diagnosis of primary gastric NHL. Preoperative diagnosis to clarify the nature of lesions (primary or not) and accurate staging of neoplasm before the operation are indispensable for a correct therapeutic approach; in according to the Ann Arbor classification modified by Musshoff our cases was stage IIE and radical gastrectomy with systematic lymphadenectomy was performed. Surgical resection is generally considered to have a definitive role in the treatment of primary gastric lymphoma specially for the stage IE and IIE.