BACKGROUND: Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma is considered to be a low-grade extranodal B-cell primary lymphoma and is classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as an extranodal marginal-zone lymphoma. In general, computed tomography (CT) is the imaging modality of choice to evaluate diseases of the lung parenchyma. The most common findings of MALT lymphoma are a mass or mass-like consolidation. We herein report a case of pulmonary MALT lymphoma demonstrating multiple ground-glass nodules (GGN) on CT.

CASE REPORT: Sixty-six years-old female patient was found to have multiple pure ground-glass nodules in both lungs on a CT scan performed during a routine health checkup in April 2012. She had been healthy with no symptoms, had an unremarkable medical and family history and was a non-smoker. There was not enough evidence for a diagnosis of malignancy. Therefore, regular follow-up with planned CT imaging was performed. A regular follow-up CT image showed a gradual increase of the density in the GGN of right lower lobe over a period of two years. Therefore, a biopsy of the right lower lobe of the lung was performed. The final results of the pathological examination showed MALT lymphoma. The patient is currently being followed closely without chemotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS: This case suggests that, although rare, the possibility of MALT lymphoma should be considered in patients presenting with multiple GGN on CT images. Physicians and medical staff should be aware about these findings.

Keywords: Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone, Multiple Pulmonary Nodules