Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue Lymphomas (MALTomas) Differential Diagnoses

Updated: May 15, 2023
  • Author: Swathi Namburi, MD; Chief Editor: Emmanuel C Besa, MD  more...
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DDx

Diagnostic Considerations

Diagnosis of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphomas (MALTomas) can be challenging, due to the indolent and chronic nature of most cases, and the need to include several different types of indolent B-cell malignancies in the differential diagnosis. The pathology findings need to be carefully considered, together with patient characteristics, to confirm the diagnosis and create a treatment plan. Clinicians should work closely with their pathology and radiology colleagues on cases that involve any confounding factors or uncertainty. 

In addition to the conditions listed below in Differentials, other problems to be considered include the following:

  • Extranodal lymphoma
  • Gastric lymphoma
  • Lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma (LPL)
  • Chronic lymphocytic lymphoma
  • Low-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) unclassifiable

Differential Diagnoses