Small intestinal nodular lymphoid hyperplasia in patients with giardiasis and normal serum immunoglobulins.

Abstract

Nodular lymphoid hyperplasia of the upper small intestine was demonstrated in 25 patients with giardiasis. All had normal serum immunoglobulin levels and seven patients initially presented with clinical findings suggestive of an abdominal lymphoma. In only two, however, was the diagnosis of primary jejunal lymphoma confirmed. It is possible that an aetiological relationship exists between recurrent parasitic infestation and nodular lymphoid hyperplasia of the upper small intestine.