We studied a group of 54 children with Burkitt's lymphoma from Southeastern Brazil, where epidemiological status of Burkitt's lymphoma is poorly understood. Epstein-Barr virus association showed an intermediate frequency (~60%) between endemic and sporadic subtypes. Median age was five years. Epstein-Barr virus infection was significantly associated to low age (Epstein-Barr virus + four years vs. EpsteinBarr virus -eight years). Sex ratio (M:F) was 2:1, with a significantly higher number of males in old age classes. Young age at diagnosis and excess of males at older ages, as well as a causal relationship between low age, epstein-barr virus and Burkitt's lymphoma risk, may characterize Burkitt's lymphoma in Brazil.

Background: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is associated to the etio-pathogenesis of an increasing number of tumors. Detection of EBV in pathology samples is relevant since its high prevalence in some cancers makes the virus a promising target of specific therapies. RNA in situ hybridization (RISH) is the standard diagnostic procedure, while polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methods are used for strain (EBV type-1 or 2) distinction. We performed a systematic comparison between RISH and PCR for EBV detection, in a group of childhood B-cell Non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL), aiming to validate PCR as a first, rapid method for the diagnosis of EBV-associated B-cell NHL.