Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Contributors
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- Historical introduction
- PART I Epidemiological methods
- PART II Causative factors in human cancer
- PART III Legal and ethical considerations
- PART IV Introduction: total and specific site epidemiology
- PART V Buccal cavity
- PART VI Digestive system
- PART VII Respiratory system
- PART VIII Bone and soft tissue
- PART IX Skin
- PART X Breast and genitourinary system
- PART XI Eye and nervous system
- PART XII Thyroid and other endocrine glands, lymphoid and hematopoietic system
- 52 Thyroid and other endocrine glands
- 53 Burkitt's lymphoma
- 54 Hodgkin's disease (HD)
- 55 Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and mycosis fungoides
- 56 Multiple myeloma and macroglobulinemia
- 57 The leukemias
- PART XIII Cancers in children and multiple primary cancers
- Conclusions
- Appendix 1 Cancer statistics
- Appendix 2 A glossary of epidemiological terms
- Appendix 3 Acronyms and abbreviations
- Supplement
- Index
53 - Burkitt's lymphoma
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 03 May 2010
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Contributors
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- Historical introduction
- PART I Epidemiological methods
- PART II Causative factors in human cancer
- PART III Legal and ethical considerations
- PART IV Introduction: total and specific site epidemiology
- PART V Buccal cavity
- PART VI Digestive system
- PART VII Respiratory system
- PART VIII Bone and soft tissue
- PART IX Skin
- PART X Breast and genitourinary system
- PART XI Eye and nervous system
- PART XII Thyroid and other endocrine glands, lymphoid and hematopoietic system
- 52 Thyroid and other endocrine glands
- 53 Burkitt's lymphoma
- 54 Hodgkin's disease (HD)
- 55 Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and mycosis fungoides
- 56 Multiple myeloma and macroglobulinemia
- 57 The leukemias
- PART XIII Cancers in children and multiple primary cancers
- Conclusions
- Appendix 1 Cancer statistics
- Appendix 2 A glossary of epidemiological terms
- Appendix 3 Acronyms and abbreviations
- Supplement
- Index
Summary
Introduction
Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) forms a distinct clinico-pathological entity among the non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. It is particularly frequent in children in tropical Africa and New Guinea, but outside these endemic areas the tumor is rare.
Histology, classification and diagnosis
Although BL was originally described as a clinical syndrome in African children by Burkitt (1958), the most reliable criteria for diagnosis have been its cytological and histological features. Clinically, involvement of the jaw and abdominal viscera are highly characteristic but are not specific. Histologically, it is classified as a non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of undifferentiated type. The ‘starry sky’ pattern given by histiocytes interspersed among malignant lymphoid cells is considered as a highly characteristic but non-specific feature. Cytologic imprints of the tumor show malignant lymphoid cells with deeply basophilic cytoplasm and lipoid vacuoles.
Descriptive epidemiology
Incidence and time trends
The highest incidence rates (5–10) are found in tropical Africa and in Papua New Guinea (see Table 58.4). Significant space-time and seasonal clustering of BL cases has been observed in some areas of Africa but not in others (Morrow, 1982). Elsewhere, the incidence is very low (0.1) (Parkin et al., 1985). Tumors of the jaw are more frequently seen in African children while abdominal tumors are commoner in low-risk areas.
Age and sex distribution
The age distribution of BL in endemic areas is fairly characteristic with a peak incidence at 5–8 years of age but it is rare before age two and after adolescence. In most series, the BL rates are two-fold higher in boys than in girls.
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- Information
- Human CancerEpidemiology and Environmental Causes, pp. 449 - 452Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 1992