Case of the Week
Section Editors: Matylda Machnowska1 and Anvita Pauranik2
1University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
2BC Children's Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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June 27, 2011
Burkitt's Lymphoma (Endemic Form)
- Burkitt's lymphoma is the most common form of pediatric non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The endemic form of the disease represents 80% of childhood neoplasms in Africa and is closely associated with Epstein-Barr virus.
- It is usually seen in children and adolescents, 6- 15 years of age.
- Involvement of facial bones, including orbital extension and exophthalmos, is common in the endemic form.
- Key imaging features: CT shows an isodense mass with intense homogeneous contrast enhancement with associated bone destruction. Associated dural and leptomeningeal involvement is commonly seen. MRI shows an hypo- to iso-intense mass on both T1- and T2-WI. Intense homogenous enhancement is common.
- DDx: Metastases, Histiocytosis, Leukemia
- Treatment: Chemotherapy, Bone marrow transplantation