Nodular lymphoid hyperplasia of the small bowel associated with primary jejunal malignant lymphoma. Evidence favoring a cytogenetic relationship.

A nonimmunodeficient patient with diffuse nodular lymphoid hyperplasia of the small bowel and a jejunal malignant lymphoma of mixed lymphocytic-histiocytic type is reported. Surface marker and immunohistologic studies of the malignant lymphoma and of histologically benign lymphoid nodules proximal to the tumor showed a similar pattern of monoclonality (IgM-kappa) and gave suggestive evidence of a cytogenetic relation of the lymphoma to nodular lymphoid hyperplasia. It is suggested that intestinal nodular lymphoid hyperplasia may be a condition leading to lymphoid malignancy; its exact incidence in patients with both malignant lymphoma of the gut and a primary immunodeficiency syndrome should warrant further consideration.