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Review
. 2017 Mar 10;11(1):65.
doi: 10.1186/s13256-017-1209-3.

Primary Burkitt lymphoma of the supraglottic larynx: a case report and review of the literature

Alexandra E Quimby  1 , Lisa Caulley  2 , Danielle Rodin  3 , Bibianna Purgina  4 , Libni Eapen  5 , Luke Shier  4 , Stephanie Johnson-Obaseki  2
Affiliations
Review

Primary Burkitt lymphoma of the supraglottic larynx: a case report and review of the literature

Alexandra E Quimby et al. J Med Case Rep. .

Abstract

Background: Burkitt lymphoma is a high-grade B cell lymphoma which accounts for less than 1% of all adult cases of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Rare instances of Burkitt lymphoma developing secondary to prior irradiation have been described in the literature.

Case presentation: We report a case of a 90-year-old white woman with a recent history of irradiation for Hodgkin lymphoma, who presented with primary Burkitt lymphoma of the supraglottic larynx. She underwent emergency awake tracheostomy with biopsy. A histopathological examination confirmed non-Hodgkin, B cell lymphoma of Burkitt type. Given her age and poor functional status, she underwent treatment with palliative radiotherapy.

Conclusions: A literature review was performed to clarify the clinical characteristics of radiation-induced Burkitt lymphoma in the head and neck, as well as its diagnosis and management. The present case represents the second case of radiation-induced Burkitt lymphoma in the head and neck in the reported literature, and the first in the supraglottic larynx. It highlights the need to maintain a broad differential in the assessment of malignancies of the larynx, particularly in patients with a prior history of radiation treatment.

Keywords: Burkitt; Case report; Irradiation; Larynx; Lymphoma; Supraglottis.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Initial computed tomography scan of the patient’s neck showing left neck mass involving the left supraglottic larynx and extending to the glottis and paraglottic space. The mass extended out through the thyrohyoid membrane and involved the left strap muscle
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Supraglottic larynx biopsy demonstrating infiltrating sheets of poorly differentiated lymphoid cells, numerous mitoses, and tingible body macrophages imparting a “starry-sky” pattern. a Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stain 40× magnification. b H&E stain, 100× magnification. c Tumor cell CD20 reactivity, 100× magnification. d Tumor cell c-myc reactivity, 100× magnification. e Tumor cell Ki-67 reactivity
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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