A refined approach to the diagnosis of Burkitt lymphoma in a resource-poor setting

Burkitt lymphoma (BL) is among the most studied human malignancies. The distinction of BL from other aggressive B-cell lymphomas is important for providing optimal oncological care. In the revised 4th edition of the World Health Organization (WHO) classification, BL is defined as ‘a highly aggressive but curable lymphoma that often presents in extranodal sites or as an acute leukemia. It is composed of monomorphic medium-sized B-cells with basophilic cytoplasm and numerous mitotic figures, usually with a demonstrable MYC gene translocation to an IG locus. The frequency of EBV (Epstein Barr virus) infection varies according to the epidemiological subtype of BL. No single parameter, such as morphologic, genetic analysis or immunophenotyping can be used as the gold standard for diagnosis of BL; a combination of several diagnostic techniques is necessary.