Burkitt-like lymphoma

The Revised European-American Lymphoma classification gives Burkitt-like lymphoma (BLL) provisional status, leaving unresolved the differential diagnosis with Burkitt lymphoma (BL) and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).

Retention of the BLL category or inclusion of BLL as a variant of BL is biologically and clinically more appropriate than absorbing the category of BLL into DLBCL. (11389007)

BLL can be recognized by its combined morphologic and phenotypic features and that it represents a high-grade lymphoma much closer to BL than DLBCL.

Compared with DLBCL, BLL had a higher proliferative rate (mean Ki-67, 88% versus 53%), greater expression of CD10 and p53 antigens, and decreased expression of Bcl-2. (11389007)

BLL cases had a consistent absence of one or more cell adhesion molecules (92% versus 27%), low T-TIL numbers, and absence of CD44 homing receptor (92% versus 14%). (11389007)

A t(8;14) translocation is identified in 80% of BLL cases, but no patients with BLL had a t(14;18) translocation. (11389007)

In a 10-year analysis, median survival of patients with BLL was 1.2 years, and that of patients with DLBCL was 2.5 years. (11389007)

Variants

 transformation of follicular lymphoma to Burkitt-like lymphoma within a single lymph node (15948125)

Cytogenetics

 +/- 8q24/MYC translocation

 miscellaneous rearrangements

• 18q21 rearrangements

See also

 Burkitt lymphoma

References

 Adult B-cell lymphomas with burkitt-like morphology are phenotypically and genotypically heterogeneous with aggressive clinical behavior. McClure RF, Remstein ED, Macon WR, Dewald GW, Habermann TM, Hoering A, Kurtin PJ. Am J Surg Pathol. 2005 Dec;29(12):1652-60. PMID: 16327438

 McClure RF, Remstein ED, Macon WR, Dewald GW, Habermann TM, Hoering A, Kurtin PJ. Adult B-cell lymphomas with burkitt-like morphology are phenotypically and genotypically heterogeneous with aggressive clinical behavior. Am J Surg Pathol. 2005 Dec;29(12):1652-60. PMID: 16327438

 Mukhopadhyay S, Readling J, Cotter PD, Shrimpton AE, Sidhu JS. Transformation of follicular lymphoma to Burkitt-like lymphoma within a single lymph node. Hum Pathol. 2005 May;36(5):571-5. PMID: 15948125

 Braziel RM, Arber DA, Slovak ML, Gulley ML, Spier C, Kjeldsberg C, Unger J, Miller TP, Tubbs R, Leith C, Fisher RI, Grogan TM. The Burkitt-like lymphomas: a Southwest Oncology Group study delineating phenotypic, genotypic, and clinical features. Blood. 2001 Jun 15;97(12):3713-20. PMID: 11389007 (Free)