Ileocecal Burkitt’s Lymphoma Presenting as Acute Abdominal Pain

Abstract

Primary gastrointestinal non-Hodgkin's lymphomas are rare tumors which account for about 0.9% of all gastrointestinal tract tumors. They are usually associated with inflammatory bowel disease, previous radiotherapy, and renal transplantation. We report a case of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma involving the ileocecal region in a 46-year-old gentleman who presented with acute abdominal pain that mandated emergency laparotomy.

A Case of Multifocal Burkitt Lymphoma in an Immunocompromised Patient

“…Primary gastric lymphoma is more prevalent in men older than 50 years of age and is usually due to B-cell lymphomas; however, other primary gastric lymphomas can also include mantle cell and marginal zone B-cell lymphoma (MALT) [ 7 ]. Primary non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma of the GI tract accounts for less than 0.9% of all gastrointestinal tumors [ 2 ]. Patients with primary non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma of the GI tract typically have a history of inflammatory bowel disease or radiation [ 2 ].…”

“…Primary non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma of the GI tract accounts for less than 0.9% of all gastrointestinal tumors [ 2 ]. Patients with primary non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma of the GI tract typically have a history of inflammatory bowel disease or radiation [ 2 ]. Generally, up to 30%-40% of extra-nodal manifestations of all non-Hodgkin lymphomas occur in the stomach; however, this is usually due to secondary involvement, especially in non-endemic BL [ 5 , 7 ].…”

“…Non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) are a type of lymphatic tissue malignancy made from the B-cell lineage [ 1 , 2 ]. B-cell malignancies are comprised of either extra-nodal marginal lymphoma, follicular lymphomas, mantle cell lymphoma, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, or Burkitt lymphoma (BL) [ 2 ]. Of these, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is the most common histological subtype, and only 1%-2% of NHL are BL [ 2 , 3 ].…”

“…B-cell malignancies are comprised of either extra-nodal marginal lymphoma, follicular lymphomas, mantle cell lymphoma, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, or Burkitt lymphoma (BL) [ 2 ]. Of these, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is the most common histological subtype, and only 1%-2% of NHL are BL [ 2 , 3 ]. BL is more common in Caucasians and more prevalent in males [ 4 ].…”

“…Although diffuse large B-cell lymphoma commonly affects the gastrointestinal tract and colon, it is less common for Burkitt lymphoma to manifest there [ 2 ]. Endemic BL manifests in the bones of the jaw, face, kidneys, ovaries, and breasts, and occasionally the gastrointestinal tract, whereas Sporadic BL most commonly affects the ileocecal region, ovaries, kidneys, omentum, and central nervous system [ 5 ].…”