Burkitts lymphoma
Burkitts's lymphoma is one of the less frequent non-Hodgekin's lymphomas that can often be found in children. It is one of the B-cell lymphomias but although it is very aggressive it has a good prognosis using modern therapies.
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Burkitt's lymphoma will often either start in, or include parts of the body outside of the lymphatic system. There are two major types of this lymphomia, the sporadic Burkitt's lymphoma and the endemic Burkitt's lymphoma. This particular version of lymphomias is unusually frequent in the equator countries in Africa where the disease is classified as endemic. Outside of this part of the world, this disease is not as frequently appearing and it is classified there as sporadic. The sporadic and endemic types of Burkitt's lymphoma cancer differs somewhat.
Sporadic Burkitt's lymphoma
This is the "outside of Africa" type of Burkitt's lymphoma, where it is primarily a cancer affecting children. Although there is a connection to the Epstein Barr virus, it is not as marked as in the case with the endemic type. There is however statistics showing the presence of EBV in around 20% of the patients. In children, the abdomen is often affected (as well as the lymphnodes).Endemic Burkitt’s lymphomia
Around 50% of all cancers in children in the equatorial parts of Africa are of the endemic Burkitt's ZZ type. This type of lymphoma is more likely to affect children than adults. It is also strongly connected to an infection by the Epstein Barr virus as over 95% of the patients developing the cancer has a previous virus infection. Endemic Burkitt's often involves jaw bone and abdomen.How to treat Burkitt’s lymphoma
As this cancer belongs to the group of aggressive B-cell lymphoma's, it develops with great speed and will lead to death if not treated urgently. Luckily, this is also one of the cancerss that has a good prognosis when using high dose chemoterapies combined with new methods of patient support during treatment. It is uncommon to see relapses and around 50% of children and as much as 80% of patients with a local form of the Burkitts lymphoma are cured. Late relapses of this lymphomia are hardly seen.