Burkitt Lymphoma Flashcards
What is Burkitt lymphoma?
A highly aggressive, B-cell, non-Hodgkin lymphoma characterised by a translocation and deregulation in the c-myc gene on chromosome 8
How can Burkitt lymphoma present?
Abdominal mass
N/V
Weight loss/Anorexia
GI bleeding
Acute abdo
Renal involvement
Mandibular or maxillary mass
CNS symptoms
B symptoms
How is BL diagnosed?
Tissue biopsy with starry-sky pattern
Discuss the epidemiology of BL
Rare in the Western World
Endemic in Africa where it has a close association with EBV
How is BL treated?
Aggressive, high dose chemotherapy usually involving the following:
Cyclophosphamide
Vincristine
Doxorubicin
Mexatrexate
Cytarabine
Autologous bone marrow transplant
What is the prognosis of BL?
When treated with optimal chemotherapy children and adults have a 90% and 50-60% chance of disease free survival
