Burkitt lymphoma
Updates to Article Attributes
Burkitt lymphoma (BL) is an aggressive B-cell lymphoma that predominantly affects children.
Epidemiology
Burkitt lymphoma is the most common (40%) type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in childhood. Median age of Burkitt lymphoma is 8 years and it has a male predominance (M:F = 4:1) 1. It is less common in adults, accounting for 1-2% of lymphomas 4,5.
There are geographic differences with Burkitt lymphoma, which is considered endemic in parts of Africa (rates are up to 50 times higher than in the USA), with sporadic cases occurring elsewhere.
Risk factors
- HIV/AIDS
- post-transplant immunosuppression
Clinical presentation
BLBukitt lymphoma affects many organs and this affects presentation. Extranodal involvement is common (~30%) at presentation, most often presenting as an abdominal or pelvic mass. Most patients present with widespread disease.
Pathology
Three forms of Burkitt lymphoma have been described 1, 2:
- endemic BL: linked to EBV and Plasmodium falciparum malaria infections
- sporadic BL: aetiology unknown
- immunodeficiency-associated BL: occurs in patients with HIV, post-transplant or congenital immunosuppression
Burkitt lymphoma is an aggressive tumour with a doubling time of 24 hours. It can present in a wide variety of locations:
- head and neck, e.g. facial bones, Waldeyer's ring
- pleural space (~70%)
- gastrointestinal tract, especially ileocaecal region
- mesentery, peritoneum, retroperitoneum
- kidneys
- gonads (~75%)
Nodal involvement is more common in adults than in children 5.
Radiographic appearance
Radiographic features vary widely depending on organ involvement:
- abdominal manifestations of Burkitt lymphoma
- musculoskeletal manifestations of Burkitt lymphoma
- head and neck manifestations of Burkitt lymphoma
Treatment and prognosis
BL canBurkitt lymphoma can be treated with chemotherapy. In children, prognosis is good with survival rates >90%. In adults, prognosis is poorer, with a 5-year survival rate of ~50% and is even worse with bone marrow or CNS involvement (>30% 5-year survival rate) 4.
History and etymology
First described by Denis Parsons Burkitt, Irish surgeon, in 1958 in Uganda, Africa.
Differential diagnosis
- other forms of high-grade B-cell lymphoma
-
Crohn disease may mimic
BLBurkitt lymphoma onUSultrasound, barium studies and CT 3
-</ul><h4>Clinical presentation</h4><p>BL affects many organs and this affects presentation. Extranodal involvement is common (~30%) at presentation, most often presenting as an abdominal or pelvic mass. Most patients present with widespread disease.</p><h4>Pathology</h4><p>Three forms of Burkitt lymphoma have been described <sup>1, 2</sup>:</p><ul>- +</ul><h4>Clinical presentation</h4><p>Bukitt lymphoma affects many organs and this affects presentation. Extranodal involvement is common (~30%) at presentation, most often presenting as an abdominal or pelvic mass. Most patients present with widespread disease.</p><h4>Pathology</h4><p>Three forms of Burkitt lymphoma have been described <sup>1, 2</sup>:</p><ul>
-</ul><h4>Treatment and prognosis</h4><p>BL can be treated with chemotherapy. In children, prognosis is good with survival rates >90%. In adults, prognosis is poorer, with a 5-year survival rate of ~50% and is even worse with bone marrow or CNS involvement (>30% 5-year survival rate) <sup>4</sup>.</p><h4>History and etymology</h4><p>First described by <strong>Denis Parsons Burkitt</strong>, Irish surgeon, in 1958 in Uganda, Africa.</p><h4>Differential diagnosis</h4><ul>- +</ul><h4>Treatment and prognosis</h4><p>Burkitt lymphoma can be treated with chemotherapy. In children, prognosis is good with survival rates >90%. In adults, prognosis is poorer, with a 5-year survival rate of ~50% and is even worse with bone marrow or CNS involvement (>30% 5-year survival rate) <sup>4</sup>.</p><h4>History and etymology</h4><p>First described by <strong>Denis Parsons Burkitt</strong>, Irish surgeon, in 1958 in Uganda, Africa.</p><h4>Differential diagnosis</h4><ul>
-<a href="/articles/crohn-disease-1">Crohn disease</a> may mimic BL on US, barium studies and CT <sup>3</sup>- +<a href="/articles/crohn-disease-1">Crohn disease</a> may mimic Burkitt lymphoma on ultrasound, barium studies and CT <sup>3</sup>
Unable to process the form. Check for errors and try again.