Burkitt’s lymphoma-An unusual presentation in an Indian girl

Abstract

Burkitt’s Lymphoma (BL) is a rare monoclonal proliferation of B- lymphocytes and is classified as a poorly differentiated lymphocytic lymphoma. It is highly aggressive. Symptoms are caused by rapid turnover of the mature B lymphocytes and the involvement of extranodal sites and invasion of adjacent organs. This tumor was first noted in Africans. The cause of this tumor is debatable, but strong evidence implicate Epstein- Barr virus(EBV) in its development. This tumor predominantly affects children and is probably the fastest growing tumor in humans, with exuberant proliferation. It is a very rare malignancy accounting to only 0.76% of solid malignant tumors among Indian children. A case of BL with unusual presentation as Krukenberg tumor presenting as bilateral ovarian masses in a 18 year old adolescent Indian girl is reported.