title: Burkitt's lymphoma: the initial defining characteristics.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To put together salient historical, geographical and biological characteristics of Burkitt's lymphoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Burkitt's lymphoma study data gathered over a ten year study, other publications, original and review articles, conference abstracts searched mainly on PubMed indexed for Medline.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic documentation and review to identify information relating to Burkitt's lymphoma, historical, geographical and biological characteristics. Only data relevant to the objectives of the subject were extracted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A detailed qualitative assessment was undertaken given the heterogeneity of data and study types making it not appropriate to pool results across studies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Burkitt's lymphoma is historically linked to the tropical Africa and its geographical characteristics have been the most defining characteristics of its other features. The biological characteristic also roots strongly in its geographical and clinical manifestations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, College of Health Sciences, University of Nairobi, Kenya.
authors.forename: O W
authors.initials: OW
authors.lastname: Mwanda
mesh_terms: D002051:Burkitt Lymphoma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D002883:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 14; D002898:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 8; D006801:Humans; D014178:Translocation, Genetic; D014329:Tropical Climate