[Burkitt lymphoma is a highly malign tumour with a doubling time of twenty-four hours].
The treatment results for patients with Burkitt lymphoma have improved markedly over the past 20 years. Focus on the rapid doubling time of the lymphoma, and the frequent involvement of the central nervous system, have led to effective intensive chemotherapy regimens, where several of the drugs cross the blood-brain barrier. The overall survival is now 65-80% even when patients have advanced disease at the time of diagnosis. However, the condition and its complications such as tumour lysis syndrome are acute life threatening, and a quick diagnosis and proper management of complications are essential for the prognosis.
Hæmatologisk Afdeling, Herlev Hospital, Herlev Ringvej 75, 2730 Herlev, Denmark.
Ulf Christian
UC
Frølund
Signe Ledou
SL
Nielsen
Per Boye
PB
Hansen
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002051:Burkitt Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D006801:Humans; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000175:diagnosis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate