A disease called Burkitt's lymphoma is a variety of diseases related to the non-Hodgkin species. The development of this pathology is due to B-lymphocytes. This disease has a very high level of malignancy. Having once struck a specific focus, lymphoma does not stop, continuing to spread throughout the human body. We will talk about what stages there are in this disease, as well as about the symptoms of its manifestation, diagnosis and treatment in our article.
Epidemiology of the disease
Burkitt's lymphoma is able to affect the area of the bone marrow, destroying the blood and wielding in the cerebrospinal fluid, that is, in the cerebrospinal fluid. If this disease is not treated, then the tumor can grow very quickly throughout the body, resulting in a fatal outcome. The immediate cause of this merciless disease for humans is the Epstein-Barr virus.
Different age groups for this disease
Regarding epidemiology, it is worth saying that the symptoms of Burkitt's lymphoma (pictured) are determined in patients in different age groups. But the greatest prevalence of this disease is observed in children and young people, especially among men. Very often, this disease develops in people with AIDS. This disease is common in Central Africa and is often found among the population of the United States of America. As for Russia, it is extremely rare in our country.
A person suffering from Burkitt's lymphoma cannot infect others with this disease. But it is important to note that this virus in some quantities can be transmitted through saliva, but will not be able to cause independent infection processes.
Pathology Description
Burkitt's lymphoma is an extremely malignant pathology that develops from B-lymphocytes. This disease is not localized exclusively in the lymphatic system, quickly starting to spread through tissues and organs. It can penetrate the blood, and in addition, into the bone marrow. The etiology of it is still not clearly identified. As a rule, specialists consider common factors that are characteristic of neoplastic diseases, because almost always the development of lymphomas is associated with the direct action of the virus and tumor growth. Doctors can find Burkitt’s lymphoma in various organs, such as the adrenal glands, jaw, pancreas, intestines, stomach, and so on. In most cases, this virus has no effect on peripheral lymph nodes, the causes of which are also unknown.
The difference between the disease and lymphosarcoma
Often, experts note the presence in the neoplasm of lymphoid immature cells with a distribution of chromatin in the nucleus, so that a doctor can easily distinguish this pathology from lymphosarcoma. At the same time, vacuolated histiocytes can be detected during histological examination. In addition, patients in the cytoplasm of lymphoid cells have an increased amount of lipids. In the framework of microscopy, it is possible to identify protrusions of the cytoplasm with viral particles.
A feature of this disease is that it does not have a specific binding to a particular age category of a person, and most often, as already noted, Burkitt's lymphoma is diagnosed in children and adolescents. Often, such a disease begins to manifest itself in those who have been diagnosed with AIDS. This disease, unlike other similar ailments, often becomes the main cause of infectious mononucleosis in people.
Next, we find out exactly how this disease proceeds and what its main stages are.
Stages of the disease
Allocate only four stages of Burkitt's lymphoma, which depend on the degree of its prevalence in the body:
- First stage lymphoma affects one area of the lymph nodes.
- In the second stage, one or several areas of the lymph nodes located on one side of the diaphragm can be affected.
- In the third stage, the lymph nodes located on both sides of the diaphragm are affected.
- Burkitt's lymphoma of the 4th stage involves internal organs in the tumor process.
The first two stages of the pathology, characterized by damage to the peripheral lymph nodes, are considered local, and the latter are called common. Now we will examine directly the causes of this disease.
The causes of the disease
The exact reasons associated with the degeneration of cells, science does not yet know. As already noted, the disease occurs due to the Epstein-Barr virus, which is an absolute fact. But not all people who are carriers of this virus have such a disease. Often it happens that Burkitt’s lymphoma is detected in children and adults who have had mononucleosis. Infectious mononucleosis is similar to lymphoma. Both diseases proceed similarly, but lymphoma is more difficult to treat than mononucleosis.
Weakened hereditary immunity
Scientists concluded that the fourth-degree virus affects precisely those patients who have weakened hereditary immunity. Such people are more likely than others to malignant processes occurring in the lymphatic system. In addition, scientists suggest that the following factors exist due to which this disease can occur:
- Irradiation of the patient with the use of ionizing radiation in the treatment of other oncological diseases.
- Living in places with poor ecology, as well as near areas associated with the chemical industry.
- Regular contact with carcinogens in the workplace.
Symptoms of pathology
Lymphoma cells in significant quantities are able to accumulate in the lymph nodes, and in addition, in the organs of the abdominal cavity. As a result of this, they increase. In the case of penetration of cells into the small intestine, obstruction occurs and bleeding is caused. Sometimes pathology, affecting peripheral lymph nodes, can lead to swelling of the jaw and neck, causing extremely painful sensations. Malignant neoplasms of lymphoid tissues are characterized by a tendency to rapid growth. Specialists distinguish the following symptoms of Burkitt's lymphoma:
- The appearance of single or multiple tumors in the jaw area, capable of passing to other organs.
- The process of bone destruction.
- The presence of a malfunction during breathing or swallowing.
- The process of soft tissue infiltration.
- Deformation of the jaw and nose.
In addition, with lymphoma, other symptoms associated with the general toxic syndrome, including febrile conditions, can be observed. It is worth mentioning the abdominal form of Burkitt's lymphoma, which is characterized by a rapid course of a progressive nature along with complex diagnostics. In this case, damage to organs such as the kidneys, liver, pancreas and intestines is observed.
Symptoms of the abdominal type
How is this type of pathology manifested? We will examine in more detail in this matter. The abdominal type of the disease is usually accompanied by the following symptoms:
- The appearance of a febrile condition.
- The development of jaundice.
- Sensation of abdominal pain.
- The development of intestinal obstruction.
- General exhaustion of the body.
- The appearance of dyspeptic syndrome.
During the progression of the infection, which was caused by the Epstein-Barr virus, a malignant neoplasm can form that will be located on the lateral side of the nasal cavity. As a rule, such a formation can spread extremely quickly to the nasopharynx, releasing metastases in the region of the submandibular lymph nodes. Signs of this form of the disease can be various discharge from the nasal cavity, which usually takes the form of mucus with pus. Sometimes in this mucus you can find impurities of the blood.
During the development of the malignant process, patients may experience pain that radiates to the temple area. The appearance of tinnitus is not ruled out. If the tumor is located on the side of the nasopharynx, hearing impairment may occur. General toxic symptoms can be formed with great speed.
In patients with impaired immunity, leukoplakia of the oral cavity, mucous membranes of the tongue and border of the lips may occur. Sometimes doctors observe pathological lesions on the glans penis in men. In women, localization of foci on the cervix, and also in the vagina, is likely. Such foci, as a rule, have the appearance of whitish areas, which differ in clearly defined boundaries. As a result of the appearance of such foci, a burning sensation may occur. If you injure these areas, bleeding may occur.
Diagnosis of Burkitt's lymphoma
In order to make a diagnosis, the patient is first prescribed a biopsy of the pathological tissue. Further, the material is sent for histological examination in order to clarify the stage of lymphoma. Under a microscope, it is usually possible to examine many small dark lymphocytes, which are occasionally interspersed with macrophages. Thus, lymphocytes try to phagocytize tumor cells.
Bilateral biopsy as a method for diagnosing pathology
Depending on the location of the foci of lymphoma, a bilateral biopsy can be performed along with bone marrow aspiration. In addition, it is possible to refer to chest x-ray, pelvis. It is equally important to examine the abdominal cavity and conduct lymphangiography of the lower extremities along with a liver biopsy.
Next, find out how the treatment of this pathology is currently being carried out.
What is the treatment for Burkitt's lymphoma?
The treatment of the disease
To treat this disease, doctors usually turn to the use of chemotherapy. Thus, drugs such as Cyclophosphamide are used along with Etoposide, Cytarabine, Vincristine, Doscorubicin and Methotrexate.
As part of a comprehensive treatment by doctors, immunomodulators are often used. For the treatment of malignant tumors caused by the Epstein-Barr virus, recombinant interferons are used, which are used in large doses. Currently, chemotherapy has been combined with antiviral drugs. This makes it possible to achieve higher efficiency. As part of the treatment, chemotherapeutic drugs are administered to patients intravenously or directly into the cerebrospinal fluid.
The course of chemotherapy for cancer and Burkitt’s lymphoma directly depends on the stage of the disease. It should be noted that under the condition of early appointment, there is the possibility of curing the patient completely. As for the last stages, they use a surgical treatment technique. In the event of bleeding or tears in the intestines, doctors can remove part of it.
This is the treatment for Burkitt's lymphoma.
The prognosis for this pathology
The most favorable prognosis of lymphoma is, as a rule, in children, and in addition, with localized processes. In the event that timely treatment is not carried out, the disease can inevitably lead the patient to death. The overall survival immediately after a course of chemotherapy in the presence of this pathology in children is from sixty to ninety percent. Among adult patients, the survival rate reaches from seventy to eighty percent. It should also be noted that among adult patients, the result of treatment may differ in unpredictability.
Conclusions on the article
So what conclusions can be drawn? In conclusion, it is worth saying that with timely and competent treatment, Burkitt's lymphoma can recede quickly enough, therefore, in general, we can still speak of a favorable prognosis. It is important to emphasize that until now a suitable scheme for the prevention of this disease has not been developed. As noted earlier, in Russia this pathology is extremely rare. Usually only newcomers are ill with lymphoma, and the zero probability of infection with them allows us to conclude that this pathology is irrelevant for our latitudes.