What is Burkitt lymphoma ?

Burkitt lymphoma is a non-Hodgkin's lymphoma derived from a high level of B lymphocytes and tends to spread to areas outside the lymph system (eg bone marrow, blood, central nervous system and spinal fluid). Burkitt's lymphoma can occur at any age, but is most often found in children and young adults, especially men. This disease can also occur in people with AIDS.


CAUSE
Unlike other lymphomas, Burkitt's lymphoma has a characteristic geographic distribution. Most commonly found in Central Africa and rare in the U.S.. The causes are the Epstein-Barr virus, which causes infectious mononucleosis in people who live in the U.S., but people with Burkitt's lymphoma can not transmit the disease to others. Why the same virus that causes lymphoma in Central Africa, but it causes infectious mononucleosis in the U.S., still can not understand.


SYMPTOMS
A large number of lymphoma cells can accumulate in the lymph nodes and abdominal organs, causing swelling. Lymphoma cells can enter into the small intestine, causing blockage or bleeding. Found swelling of the neck and jaw, which sometimes cause pain.


Diagnosis
To make a diagnosis, a biopsy of abnormal tissue and performed procedures to determine the extent of the spread of disease (staging). Sometimes the disease is still confined to one area (localized). If at the time of diagnosis of lymphoma has spread to the bone marrow, blood or central nervous system, then the prognosis is poor.


TREATMENT
Without treatment, Burkitt's lymphoma developed rapidly and be fatal. It may take surgery to remove the affected bowel area, to prevent bleeding, blockage or a rupture.

Given intensive chemotherapy, a combination of cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, vincristine, doxorubicin and cytarabine. Chemotherapy can cure about 80% of patients with lymphoma who are still localized and 70% of lymphoma patients who have little spread. For a disease that has spread widely, reaching 50-60% recovery rate, but drops to 20-40% if the lymphoma has invaded the central nervous system or bone marrow.