Burkitt lymphoma
Meaning of Burkitt lymphoma: Burkitt lymphoma is a fast growing B-cell cancer of the lymphatic system that occurs in distinct forms across different populations.
Definition of Burkitt lymphoma
Burkitt lymphoma is an aggressive, fast growing form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that develops from B lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell. It can arise in the jaw, abdomen, central nervous system, ovaries, or other organs, and because it grows so rapidly, it often requires prompt treatment once identified.
The disease occurs in three recognized forms. Sporadic Burkitt lymphoma occurs throughout the world and is the form seen most often outside certain regions of Africa, where an endemic form linked to prior infection with Epstein-Barr virus is more common. A third form develops in people with a weakened immune system, including those with advanced HIV infection.
Burkitt lymphoma cells characteristically carry a rearrangement involving the MYC gene, a change that drives the rapid growth typical of this cancer. Despite its aggressive behavior, Burkitt lymphoma responds well to intensive chemotherapy in many cases.
Used in a sentence
A biopsy of the jaw mass confirmed Burkitt lymphoma with the characteristic MYC gene rearrangement.
Good to know
Burkitt lymphoma grows unusually fast even among aggressive cancers, so it is generally treated as a medical urgency once suspected rather than managed on the timeline typical of slower growing lymphomas.