Burkitt's lymphoma in Uganda: the role of immunohistochemistry in diagnosis.
BACKGROUND
Haematoxylin and eosin staining has remained the standard diagnostic method for Burkitt's lymphoma. Ancillary tests including immunohistochemistry, not widely available in developing countries, are important tools in verifying the diagnosis of lymphomas with equivocal morphological findings.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the reliability of haematoxylin and eosin staining in the diagnosis of Burkitt's lymphoma using immunohistochemistry as the gold standard.


METHODS
Cross sectional study.


METHODS
Department of Pathology laboratory, Makerere University Medical School, Uganda.


METHODS
One hundred and thirty eight formalin fixed paraffin embedded biopsies of Burkitt's lymphoma diagnosed from January 2001 to December 2005.


RESULTS
Of the 138 tumours, 88.4% were extra-nodal: jaw 36.2%, ovary 21%, gastrointestinal tract 12.3% other abdominal 11.6%. Males (55.8%) predominated. The sensitivity and specificity of haematoxylin and eosin were 93.2% and 50% respectively. The positive and negative predictive values were 91.7% and 55.6%.


CONCLUSIONS
Histology using haematoxylin and eosin staining is sensitive in the diagnosis of Burkitt's lymphoma but not very specific. Immunohistochemical staining with CD20, Ki-67 and bcl-2 is necessary for difficult cases.
Lukande
R
R
Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Makerere University Medical School, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda.
Wabinga
H R
HR
Tumwine
L K
LK
D018951:Antigens, CD20 / Q000032:analysis*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D002051:Burkitt Lymphoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004801:Eosine Yellowish-(YS); D005260:Female; D006416:Hematoxylin; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods*; D007223:Infant; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000032:analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D014454:Uganda
D018951:Antigens, CD20; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D004801:Eosine Yellowish-(YS); D006416:Hematoxylin