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Burkitt lymphoma


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Other Names:
Burkitt's lymphoma; BL
Categories:
Blood Diseases; Rare Cancers

Summary Summary


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Burkitt lymphoma (BL) is a very fast-growing type of cancer. It is a form of B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.[1] There are 3 recognized forms of BL:
  • Endemic (African) - the most common form, found mainly in central Africa, where it is associated with the Epstein Barr virus (EBV).[2] It is most common in children. This form often manifests as enlargement of the jaw or facial bones.[3]
  • Sporadic - a rarer form, seen in all parts of the world, that often develops in the abdomen with bone marrow involvement. The kidneys, ovaries, breasts or other organs may also be involved.[3][2] This form commonly affects children and young adults.[4]
  • Immunodeficiency-associated - occurs primarily in people with HIV infection, and less commonly in people with other immunodeficiency disorders or recipients of organ transplants.[2][5]

Signs and symptoms may differ depending on the form of BL and the organs or body systems involved.[2] When it spreads, weakness and fatigue often develop. Lymphoma cells may build up in the lymph nodes and other organs, causing swelling.[1] Central nervous system involvement is possible with all forms of BL, particularly when there is advanced-stage disease.[4]

The exact cause of BL is not known. EBV infection appears to play a role in virtually all cases of endemic (African) BL, and a minority of sporadic and immunodeficiency-associated BL.[5] While acquired (not inherited) genetic changes involving the MYC gene and other genes are present within BL cancer cells, it is unclear what causes these genetic changes to occur.[2][3]

Without timely treatment, BL is rapidly fatal. Treatment involves intensive chemotherapy, which includes chemotherapy to the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord.[1] The majority of people treated with aggressive therapy achieve long-term remission.[5]

Last updated: 9/25/2017

Symptoms Symptoms


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This table lists symptoms that people with this disease may have. For most diseases, symptoms will vary from person to person. People with the same disease may not have all the symptoms listed. This information comes from a database called the Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) . The HPO collects information on symptoms that have been described in medical resources. The HPO is updated regularly. Use the HPO ID to access more in-depth information about a symptom.

Showing of 18 |
Medical Terms Other Names
Learn More:
HPO ID
30%-79% of people have these symptoms
Abnormality of bone marrow cell morphology 0005561
Hyperuricemia
High blood uric acid level
0002149
Increased lactate dehydrogenase level 0025435
Neoplasm of the oral cavity 0100649
5%-29% of people have these symptoms
Abdominal pain
Pain in stomach
Stomach pain
[ more ]
0002027
Abnormality of the liver
Abnormal liver
Liver abnormality
[ more ]
0001392
Abnormality of the lymph nodes
Abnormal lymph node histology
0002733
Abnormality of the ovary
Abnormality of the ovaries
0000137
Abnormality of the pancreas 0001732
Abnormality of the spleen 0001743
Decreased proportion of CD4-positive helper T cells 0005407
Gastrointestinal hemorrhage
Gastrointestinal bleeding
0002239
Intestinal obstruction
Bowel obstruction
Intestinal blockage
[ more ]
0005214
Nausea and vomiting 0002017
Percent of people who have these symptoms is not available through HPO
Burkitt lymphoma 0030080
Immunodeficiency
Decreased immune function
0002721
Somatic mutation 0001428
Sporadic
No previous family history
0003745
Showing of 18 |
Do you have more information about symptoms of this disease? We want to hear from you.
Last updated: 2/1/2021
Do you have updated information on this disease? We want to hear from you.

Inheritance Inheritance


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Burkitt lymphoma (BL) is not an inherited condition. It almost always occurs in people with no family history of BL. To our knowledge, there has been one report (in 1986) describing BL in more than one family member (two sisters). However, this occurrence was thought to be due to an inherited lymphocyte disorder that may have predisposed the sisters to developing BL.[6]

While BL is associated with genetic changes involving the MYC gene and immunoglobulin genes (genes that provide instructions for antibodies), these genetic changes are acquired (not inherited), and are limited to the cancer cells.[6] They are not passed on to offspring.
Last updated: 9/25/2017

Diagnosis Diagnosis


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Making a diagnosis for a genetic or rare disease can often be challenging. Healthcare professionals typically look at a person’s medical history, symptoms, physical exam, and laboratory test results in order to make a diagnosis. The following resources provide information relating to diagnosis and testing for this condition. If you have questions about getting a diagnosis, you should contact a healthcare professional.

Testing Resources

  • The Genetic Testing Registry (GTR) provides information about the genetic tests for this condition. The intended audience for the GTR is health care providers and researchers. Patients and consumers with specific questions about a genetic test should contact a health care provider or a genetics professional.

Prognosis Prognosis


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Without timely treatment, BL is rapidly fatal.[1] However, the majority of people treated with aggressive therapy achieve long-term remission.[5]

In general, children with BL have better survival rates than adults with BL. The prognosis in children correlates with the extent of disease at the time of diagnosis. Those with limited disease when diagnosed and treated have a survival rate greater than 90%. Children with more extensive disease, especially involving the bone marrow and central nervous system, have long-term survival rates of 50-90%.[2]

While the majority of adults with BL also achieve long-term remission with aggressive therapy, adults (particularly those with advanced stage disease) do more poorly than children.[2][7] In addition to the extent of disease at the time of diagnosis, prognosis depends on the age of the adult. In general, survival rates decrease with age and are lowest for elderly patients.[2] Unfortunately, specific statistics regarding the prognosis for adults with BL appear to be more scarce.[8]

The outlook is poor for both children and adults if BL returns after improvement (relapses) or does not go into remission as a result of the first cycle of chemotherapy.[9][2]

Additional information about the chance to have relapsing BL is available here.
Last updated: 9/25/2017

Find a Specialist Find a Specialist


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If you need medical advice, you can look for doctors or other healthcare professionals who have experience with this disease. You may find these specialists through advocacy organizations, clinical trials, or articles published in medical journals. You may also want to contact a university or tertiary medical center in your area, because these centers tend to see more complex cases and have the latest technology and treatments.

If you can’t find a specialist in your local area, try contacting national or international specialists. They may be able to refer you to someone they know through conferences or research efforts. Some specialists may be willing to consult with you or your local doctors over the phone or by email if you can't travel to them for care.

You can find more tips in our guide, How to Find a Disease Specialist. We also encourage you to explore the rest of this page to find resources that can help you find specialists.

Healthcare Resources

  • To find a medical professional who specializes in genetics, you can ask your doctor for a referral or you can search for one yourself. Online directories are provided by the American College of Medical Genetics and the National Society of Genetic Counselors. If you need additional help, contact a GARD Information Specialist. You can also learn more about genetic consultations from MedlinePlus Genetics.

Related Diseases Related Diseases


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Related diseases are conditions that have similar signs and symptoms. A health care provider may consider these conditions in the table below when making a diagnosis. Please note that the table may not include all the possible conditions related to this disease.

Conditions with similar signs and symptoms from Orphanet
Differential diagnoses include other forms of abdominal tumors in children (Wilms tumor and neuroblastomas, although these are retroperitoneal, and desmoplastic tumors; see these terms) and other types of lymphoma and leukemia of B and T precursors in cases with bone marrow involvement.
Visit the Orphanet disease page for more information.

Research Research


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Research helps us better understand diseases and can lead to advances in diagnosis and treatment. This section provides resources to help you learn about medical research and ways to get involved.

Clinical Research Resources

  • ClinicalTrials.gov lists trials that are related to Burkitt lymphoma. Click on the link to go to ClinicalTrials.gov to read descriptions of these studies.

    Please note: Studies listed on the ClinicalTrials.gov website are listed for informational purposes only; being listed does not reflect an endorsement by GARD or the NIH. We strongly recommend that you talk with a trusted healthcare provider before choosing to participate in any clinical study.

Organizations Organizations


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Support and advocacy groups can help you connect with other patients and families, and they can provide valuable services. Many develop patient-centered information and are the driving force behind research for better treatments and possible cures. They can direct you to research, resources, and services. Many organizations also have experts who serve as medical advisors or provide lists of doctors/clinics. Visit the group’s website or contact them to learn about the services they offer. Inclusion on this list is not an endorsement by GARD.

Organizations Supporting this Disease

  • Burkitt's Lymphoma Society
    E-mail: admin@burkittslymphomasociety.com
    Website: http://burkittslymphomasociety.com/
  • Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
    3 International Drive, Suite 200
    Rye Brook, NY 10573
    Toll-free: 1-(800) 955-4572 (patients and families)
    Telephone: 1-(888) 557-7177 (general)
    E-mail: https://www.lls.org/content/contact-us
    Website: https://www.lls.org/
  • Lymphoma Research Foundation
    Wall Street Plaza
    88 Pine Street, Suite 2400
    New York, NY 10005
    Toll-free: 1-800-500-9976
    Telephone: +1-212-349-2910
    Fax: +1-212-349-2886
    E-mail: helpline@lymphoma.org
    Website: https://www.lymphoma.org/

Social Networking Websites

  • Visit the following Facebook groups related to Burkitt lymphoma:
    Burkitt's Lymphoma Society Private Group
    Burkitt's Lymphoma Support Group
    Burkitt's Lymphoma Society

Organizations Providing General Support

  • American Cancer Society
    250 Williams Street NW
    Atlanta, GA 30329
    Toll-free: 1-800-227-2345
    Website: https://www.cancer.org
Do you know of an organization? We want to hear from you.

Living With Living With


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Living with a genetic or rare disease can impact the daily lives of patients and families. These resources can help families navigate various aspects of living with a rare disease.

Financial Resources

  • Patient Access Network Foundation (PAN Foundation) has Assistance Programs for those with health insurance who reside in the United States. The disease fund status can change over time, so you may need to check back if funds are not currently available. 

Learn More Learn More


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These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.

Where to Start

  • MedlinePlus was designed by the National Library of Medicine to help you research your health questions, and it provides more information about this topic.
  • The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library provides information on this condition for patients and caregivers. 
  • The National Cancer Institute provides the most current information on cancer for patients, health professionals, and the general public.

In-Depth Information

  • Medscape Reference provides information on this topic. You may need to register to view the medical textbook, but registration is free.
  • The Merck Manual for health care professionals provides information on Burkitt lymphoma.
  • The Monarch Initiative brings together data about this condition from humans and other species to help physicians and biomedical researchers. Monarch’s tools are designed to make it easier to compare the signs and symptoms (phenotypes) of different diseases and discover common features. This initiative is a collaboration between several academic institutions across the world and is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Visit the website to explore the biology of this condition.
  • Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) is a catalog of human genes and genetic disorders. Each entry has a summary of related medical articles. It is meant for health care professionals and researchers. OMIM is maintained by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. 
  • Orphanet is a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs. Access to this database is free of charge.
  • PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Burkitt lymphoma. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.

News & Events News & Events


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News

  • Rare Disease Day at NIH 2021
    March 1, 2021

GARD Answers GARD Answers


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Questions sent to GARD may be posted here if the information could be helpful to others. We remove all identifying information when posting a question to protect your privacy. If you do not want your question posted, please let us know.

Have a question? Contact a GARD Information Specialist.

References References


  1. Portlock CS. Burkitt Lymphoma. Merck Manual Consumer Version. http://www.merckmanuals.com/home/blood-disorders/lymphomas/burkitt-lymphoma. Accessed 9/25/2017.
  2. Kanbar AH. Burkitt Lymphoma and Burkitt-like Lymphoma. Medscape Reference. April 8, 2016; http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1447602-overview.
  3. Portlock CS. Burkitt Lymphoma. Merck Manual Professional Version. October, 2012; http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/hematology-and-oncology/lymphomas/burkitt-lymphoma.
  4. Dunleavy K, Little RF, Wilson WH. Update on Burkitt Lymphoma. Hematol Oncol Clin North Am. December, 2016; 30(6):1333-1343. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27888884.
  5. Freedman AS, Aster JC. Epidemiology, clinical manifestations, pathologic features, and diagnosis of Burkitt lymphoma. UpToDate. Waltham, MA: UpToDate; August, 2017; https://www.uptodate.com/contents/epidemiology-clinical-manifestations-pathologic-features-and-diagnosis-of-burkitt-lymphoma.
  6. Hamosh A. Burkitt lymphoma; BL. OMIM. July 6, 2017; http://omim.org/entry/113970.
  7. Freedman AS, Friedberg JW. Treatment of Burkitt leukemia/lymphoma in adults. UpToDate. Waltham, MA: UpToDate; August, 2017; https://www.uptodate.com/contents/treatment-of-burkitt-leukemia-lymphoma-in-adults.
  8. Casulo C, Friedberg J. Treating Burkitt Lymphoma in Adults. Curr Hematol Malig Rep. September, 2015; 10(3):266-271. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11899-015-0263-4.
  9. Burkitt lymphoma. MedlinePlus. May 20, 2016; https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001308.htm.
Do you know of a review article? We want to hear from you.
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You can help advance rare disease research!
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