Diagnosis of Burkitt Lymphoma and Related High-Grade B-Cell Neoplasms

• Published in: Surgical pathology clinics Vol. 3; no. 4; pp. 1035 - 1059
• Main Authors: Sohani, Aliyah R., MD, Hasserjian, Robert Paul, MD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01-12-2010
• Subjects: Acute lymphoblastic lymphoma; Burkitt lymphoma; Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma; Epstein-Barr virus; High-grade B-cell lymphoma unclassifiable; MYC; Pathology; Surgery; Epstein-Barr virus; High-grade B-cell lymphoma unclassifiable; MYC; Acute lymphoblastic lymphoma; Burkitt lymphoma; Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
• ISSN: 1875-9181; 1875-9157
• DOI: 10.1016/j.path.2010.09.010

Abstract Burkitt lymphoma (BL) is an aggressive B-cell neoplasm with an extremely short doubling time that mainly affects children and young adults. Despite having several characteristic features, none is entirely specific for BL and the differential diagnosis may include diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), B lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma, and B-cell lymphoma unclassifiable with features intermediate between DLBCL and BL. We outline a practical approach to establish a diagnosis of BL and distinguish it from other high-grade B-cell malignancies. We pay particular attention to B-cell lymphomas with features intermediate between DLBCL and BL, a new diagnostic category in the 2008 World Health Organization classification system that provides a framework for categorizing challenging cases not meeting diagnostic criteria for either “classic” BL or DLBCL.