[Burkitt lymphoma, a diagnostic emergency]

Burkitt lymphoma, a diagnostic emergency. Burkitt lymphoma is a highly aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. This is the first human tumor where a chromosomal translocation that activates an oncogene (c-myc) has been described. The diagnosis and initiation of therapy is an emergency. The main lymphoma localizations are the digestive tract, the central nervous system and the bone marrow in the sporadic form observed in Western countries. Tumor lysis syndrome can be present even before therapy and can necessitate rapid chemotherapy in intensive care unit. Dose-dense chemotherapy regimens, implemented during the last 25 years can cure the majority of patients, especially children, but remains associated with a high toxicity. The adjunction of rituximab to chemotherapy is still investigated in high-risk groups in children and is now part of the treatment in adults.