Burkitt Lymphoma was first described in 1958 at Mulago Hospital in Uganda. It is characterised by Burkitt cells, which have a very high proliferative rate (more than 90% Ki67 proliferative index and a 24-hour cell turnover rate), and c-MYC gene translocations.
Classification of Burkitt Lymphoma
| Classification | Description |
|---|---|
| African (endemic) type | Common in equatorial Africa. It affects children and is strongly associated with EBV. It presents with tumors in the mandible, kidneys, ovaries, and adrenal medulla. |
| Sporadic (non-endemic) type | Occurs wordlwide. Presents with tumors in the abdomen, cecum, and peritoneum. |
| Immunodeficiency-associated type | Occurs in patients with HIV/AIDS and post-transplantation. Presents with nodal and extranodal disease. May resemble either the endemic or sporadic form. |
- Investigations
- Biopsy and histology
- Effaced follicular pattern
- Starry sky appearance
- Immunohistochemistry
- CD10+
- CD19+
- CD10+ (CALLA)
- CD79a+ positive
- TdT negative
- SIgM positive
- Kappa and Lambda positive
- t(8;14) c-myc on IgH
- t(2;8) c-myc of IgL Kappa
- t(8;22) c-myc on IgL Lambda
- Biopsy and histology