MALT Full Form

Full Form of Malt


MALT is stand for the Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue, MALT is a form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma which is also called marginal zone lymphoma. MALT lymphoma accounts for about 8% of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) cases, making it the third most common type of NHL. These lymphomas are usually slow growing and often persist for a long time in the area where they first developed. Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) is scattered along the mucosal lining in the human body and is the most widespread component of human lymphoid tissue. These surfaces protect the body from large amounts and different types of antigens. Tonsils, Peyer's patches within the small intestine, and vermiform appendix are examples of MALT. Naming includes location; Therefore, MALT is understood to include gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT), bronchial/tracheal-associated lymphoid tissue (BALT), nasal-associated lymphoid tissue (NALT), and vulvovaginal-associated lymphoid tissue (VALT). . Excess MALT is present within the accessory organs of the digestive system, primarily the parotid gland.

How does MALT lymphoma affect the body?

MALT lymphoma usually develops in lymphoid tissue, in the mucosa or tissue it is also covers parts of the body, or in body cavities: the gastrointestinal tract which is usually the stomach, but can it also occur in the small intestine or colon; these are the some areas which are effected Lungs; Eyes; skin; salivary glands; thyroid gland; and breast. MALT lymphoma can occur at any age but it usually affects people who are in their 60s. This diesses is more common in women than in men.

Do we know what causes MALT lymphoma?

Many people with MALT lymphoma of the stomach (gastric MALT lymphoma) have been also infected with the bacterium Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). These bacterial or viral infections have also been linked to other MALT lymphomas. People with MALT lymphoma in areas other than the abdomen often have a history of autoimmune diseases such as Hashimoto's thyroiditis (lymphoma in the thyroid gland), and Sjögren's syndrome (lymphoma in the glands that produce moisture-sweat, tear, and saliva). The causes of MALT lymphoma in other parts of the body are not known.

How is MALT lymphoma treated?

Treatment is tailored to the type, stage and grade. Most slow-growing, localized MALT lymphomas respond well to treatment. Local treatments such as radiation therapy or surgery are used with early stage MALT lymphomas that occur in areas other than the abdomen. More advanced MALT lymphoma (stage 3 or 4) is usually treated with chemotherapy regimens or single-agent chemotherapy. Targeted therapy may also be used on its own or in combination with chemotherapy. People with gastric MALT lymphoma who are infected with H. pylori can achieve protracted remission in most cases, once the infection is effectively treated with antibiotics. They work to shrink lymphoma. Medicines that reduce the production of acid in the stomach may also be given along with antibiotics. People with gastric MALT lymphoma that is not progressing can be seen without treatment initially. This is known as the 'watch and wait' approach.