Burkitt's lymphoma

Question 1

What is the aetiology of burkitts lymphoma?

Answer 1

All cases of Burkitt’s lymphoma is associated with EBV and Malaria
It is the most aggressive cancer and causes jaw tumours in children

Question 2

How does EBV and Malaria act to cause burkitt’s?

Answer 2

EBV causes chronic b cell stimulation
Malaria does the same and it suppresses t cell function
Random mutation ultimately lead to monoclonal expansion of IgM B cells

Question 3

How is Burkitt’s diagnosed?

Answer 3

3 cytogenetic translocations are associated with the emergence of endemic burkitts
t(8;14)(q24;q32) - MYCIg heavy chain fusion (90% of cases)
t(2;18) Myc kappa light chain (5%)
t(8;22)myc lamda fusion (5%)

Question 4

Describe the immunophenotype of Burkitt’s

Answer 4

CD34-, Tdt-, SmIG+, B markers and BCL6

Question 5

Describe the appearance of burkitts on a blood fim

Answer 5

Starry sky
Lipid vacuoles dotted around burkitt cells
there are phagocytic histiocytes and the macrophages contain dead apoptotic tumour cells