Case Report
Published: Oct 17, 2025 | DOI: 10.24911/ejmcr.9-2360
Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma presenting as intestinal obstruction: a case report
Authors: Ahmed Qotb , Meshaal Alenezi , Ahmed Khairy , Mohammed AlJasmi
Article Info
Authors
Ahmed Qotb
Department of General Surgery, AlJahra Hospital, AlJahra, Kuwait
Meshaal Alenezi
Department of General Surgery, AlJahra Hospital, AlJahra, Kuwait
Ahmed Khairy
Department of General Surgery, AlJahra Hospital, AlJahra, Kuwait
Mohammed AlJasmi
Department of General Surgery, AlJahra Hospital, AlJahra, Kuwait
Publication History
Received: September 12, 2025
Accepted: September 27, 2025
Published: October 17, 2025
Abstract
Background: Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma is a rare variant of extranodal marginal zone B cell lymphoma occurring at mucosal sites. Gastric MALT lymphoma is well-described, but non-gastric MALT lymphomas, particularly small intestinal, ceacal, and appendiceal MALT lymphoma, are rare and present diagnostic problems. Intestinal MALT lymphoma is frequently diagnosed late and can be associated with nonspecific symptoms in patients.
Case presentation: A 69-year-old female with diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and hypothyroidism, admitted to the emergency room for 24 hours with colicky lower abdominal pain and vomiting, without bowel movements. Abdominal distension and right iliac fossa tenderness were noted on clinical examination. Imaging, however, suggested a closed-loop obstruction of a twisted segment of the ileum. A laparoscopic right hemicolectomy with resection and anastomosis was carried out on the patient. Extranodal marginal zone lymphoma of MALT type arising from the terminal ileum, cecum, and appendix with ischemic changes
was identified by histopathological analysis of the resected specimen.
Conclusion: The importance of considering MALT lymphoma in the elderly with bowel obstruction, without an established chronic inflammatory or autoimmune condition, is emphasized in this case. Mechanical obstruction requires surgical resection, but systemic therapy is the treatment of choice for disseminated disease. Future research should address the role of molecular diagnostics and targeted therapies in non-gastric MALT lymphoma to enhance early detection and management programs.
Keywords: extranodal marginal zone lymphoma, gastrointestinal lymphoma, intestinal obstruction, malt lymphoma, case report
Pubmed Style
Ahmed Qotb, Meshaal Alenezi, Ahmed Khairy, Mohammed AlJasmi. Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma presenting as intestinal obstruction: a case report. EJMCR. 2025; 17 (October 2025): -. doi:10.24911/ejmcr.9-2360
Web Style
Ahmed Qotb, Meshaal Alenezi, Ahmed Khairy, Mohammed AlJasmi. Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma presenting as intestinal obstruction: a case report. https://ejmcr.com/index.php/articles/2360 [Access: October 18, 2025]. doi:10.24911/ejmcr.9-2360
AMA (American Medical Association) Style
Ahmed Qotb, Meshaal Alenezi, Ahmed Khairy, Mohammed AlJasmi. Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma presenting as intestinal obstruction: a case report. EJMCR. 2025; 17 (October 2025): -. doi:10.24911/ejmcr.9-2360
Vancouver/ICMJE Style
Ahmed Qotb, Meshaal Alenezi, Ahmed Khairy, Mohammed AlJasmi. Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma presenting as intestinal obstruction: a case report. EJMCR. (2025), [cited October 18, 2025]; 17 (October 2025): -. doi:10.24911/ejmcr.9-2360
Harvard Style
Ahmed Qotb, Meshaal Alenezi, Ahmed Khairy, Mohammed AlJasmi (2025) Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma presenting as intestinal obstruction: a case report. EJMCR, 17 (October 2025): -. doi:10.24911/ejmcr.9-2360
Chicago Style
Ahmed Qotb, Meshaal Alenezi, Ahmed Khairy, Mohammed AlJasmi. "Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma presenting as intestinal obstruction: a case report." 17 (2025), -. doi:10.24911/ejmcr.9-2360
MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style
Ahmed Qotb, Meshaal Alenezi, Ahmed Khairy, Mohammed AlJasmi. "Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma presenting as intestinal obstruction: a case report." 17.October 2025 (2025), -. Print. doi:10.24911/ejmcr.9-2360
APA (American Psychological Association) Style
Ahmed Qotb, Meshaal Alenezi, Ahmed Khairy, Mohammed AlJasmi (2025) Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma presenting as intestinal obstruction: a case report. , 17 (October 2025), -. doi:10.24911/ejmcr.9-2360