DOI: 10.36347/sasjm.2015.v01i04.007

Pages: Page: 152-159

Bukitts Lymphoma is the most common childhood malignancy in Africa. The aetiological factors include early EBV infection, chronic malaria infestation, chromosomal translocations, other viral infections such as HIV and even exposure to some chemicals. Tumours often involve the jaw bones and abdominal organs, though no tissue or organ that is completely exempted. Non African BL (non endemic BL) and the HIV association BL commonly involve lymphoid organs. The hallmark of the diagnosis is histology or cytology. There are two morphological variants: classic and atypical. The classic BL morphology is characterized by medium sized cells with abundant basophilic cytoplasm containing vaculations. The nuclei are round with clumped chromatin and multiple nucleoli. The histological sections of this variant usually give a “starry sky” appearance of this because of the numerous closely packed hyperchromatic monomorphic lymphoid cells interspersed within sheets of lymphoblasts. The atypical variant has greater pleomorphism in nuclear size and shape with fewer nucleoli. The main stay of the treatment is chemotherapy which is adequate in early stages of the disease. Surgery and radiotherapy can be employed in advanced BL.