Primary intestinal lymphoma and its relation to alpha heavy chain disease.

Primary intestinal lymphoma in young adults is a disease that occurs mainly in underprivileged populations. There is evidence that in some cases this disease evolves from a benign lymphoplasmocytic infiltration of the gut with alpha heavy chain. More studies are needed on the effect of environmental and genetic factors on the evolution of this disease. The role of oncogenic viruses in the development of intestinal lymphoma with malabsorption is an open question. Regional studies on the entity of intestinal lymphoma with malabsorption and its relationship to childhood lymphoma in the same populations are warranted.