Primary lymphoma of the rectum: a case report and review of the literature

A case of primary malignant lymphoma of the rectum is presented and the literature reviewed. The authors recommend a complete diagnostic evaluation to assess the unifocal nature of the tumour and stage it, as well as in order to exclude systemic disease. Surgical therapy combined with chemo- and radiotherapy is the best choice when the disease is confined to the rectum, with a better prognosis than those cases treated by chemo- and radiotherapy alone. Because of the extreme rarity of the disease it is impossible to find randomised studies and any evaluation of prognosis can only be done on the basis of the small case series reported in the literature.