Lukáš Plank
Primary gastric extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of MALT-type represents a separate nosologic entity among all other extranodal lymphomas. Its origin is etiopathogenetically associated with Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection and with precursor organ-specific chronic inflammatory disease of chronic gastritis type leading to the accumulation of reactive MALT. By its neoplastic transformation also organ-specific constitutional changes are involved, leading to diagnostic genetic aberrations. The review represents a summary of the changes leading from chronic gastritis through the stage of early HP-dependent to an advanced HP-non-dependent lymphoma of MALT-type with a potential of the transformation into diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.