Burkitt lymphoma is an aggressive non-Hodgkin B-cell lymphoma. The disease is associated with Epstein Barr Virus (EBV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and chromosomal translocations that cause the overexpression of oncogene C-MYC. The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies Burkitt lymphoma into 3 clinical groups: endemic, sporadic, and immunodeficiency-related. The endemic form is common in Africa and is linked to malaria and EBV. The sporadic form is observed in the United States and Western Europe. The immunodeficiency-related variant is associated with HIV and, to a lesser extent, organ transplantation. With intense chemotherapy treatment, the disease prognosis is excellent in children but poor in adults.
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