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Burkitt's lymphoma in Ethiopian children
1Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia.
Insights
This study on childhood Burkitt's lymphoma in Ethiopia found abdominal masses and jaw swelling were common presentations. Further research into Epstein-Barr virus is recommended due to the tumor's unique geographic distribution.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Oncology
- Epidemiology
- Tropical Medicine
Background:
- Burkitt's lymphoma is a significant childhood malignancy in Ethiopia.
- Previous research suggests geographic variations in Burkitt's lymphoma distribution and risk factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the clinical characteristics and geographic distribution of childhood Burkitt's lymphoma in Ethiopia.
- To identify potential environmental correlations for Burkitt's lymphoma in the study population.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective case series of 39 children diagnosed with Burkitt's lymphoma.
- Data collected on patient demographics, clinical presentation, and geographic origin.
- Analysis of environmental factors including malaria endemicity, altitude, temperature, and rainfall.
Main Results:
- The male to female ratio was 1.3:1.
- Common presentations included abdominal mass (most frequent) and jaw swelling.
- A significant proportion of patients originated from non-malarious areas with high altitude and rainfall.
- In-hospital mortality was 20%.
Conclusions:
- The geographic distribution and apparent environmental associations of Burkitt's lymphoma in Ethiopia differ from patterns observed elsewhere in Africa.
- Further investigation into the role of Epstein-Barr virus in Ethiopian Burkitt's lymphoma is warranted.
Abstract:
Burkitt's lymphoma is the commonest malignancy seen in childhood in Ethiopia. Thirty-nine children admitted to the Ethio-Swedish Children's Hospital from January 1971 to December 1988 were studied. The male to female ratio was 1.3:1, 24(63%) were from non-malarious areas, 29(76%) came from areas with altitude above 1500 meters above sea level, 36(95%) came from areas with mean annual temperature above 16 degrees C and 35(61%) patients came from areas with mean annual rainfall above 1000 mm. The commonest presentation was abdominal mass followed by jaw swelling. Eight (20%) patients died in hospital. The geographic distribution of the tumour seems to be different from that seen in some parts of Africa. Studies with regard to Epstein-Barr virus linkage in Ethiopia are warranted.