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Burkitt's lymphoma masquerading as a Crohn's flare
Kaio S Ferreira1, Jason D Ferreira2
1Department of Internal Medicine (Kaio S. Ferreira).
Annals of Gastroenterology
|January 2, 2019
Summary
Sporadic Burkitt's lymphoma can present with confusing gastrointestinal symptoms, mimicking other conditions. A case review emphasizes considering this cancer in inflammatory bowel disease patients to avoid diagnostic delays.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Gastroenterology
- Pathology
Background:
- Sporadic Burkitt's lymphoma (sBL) is an aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
- Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms are common in sBL but can mimic other GI disorders.
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), such as Crohn's disease, shares overlapping GI symptoms with sBL.
Observation:
- A patient with a history of Crohn's disease presented with symptoms initially attributed to an IBD flare.
- Diagnostic workup revealed Burkitt's lymphoma masquerading as a Crohn's disease exacerbation.
- This case underscores the potential for misdiagnosis due to overlapping clinical presentations.
Findings:
- Burkitt's lymphoma can present with a wide spectrum of GI manifestations.
- The diagnostic challenge lies in differentiating sBL from IBD flares based on clinical presentation alone.
- Prompt and accurate diagnosis is crucial for effective treatment of sBL.
Implications:
- Clinicians should maintain a broad differential diagnosis when evaluating patients with IBD and new or worsening GI symptoms.
- Consideration of hematologic malignancies like Burkitt's lymphoma is essential in refractory or atypical IBD presentations.
- Early exclusion of mimics can prevent diagnostic delays and improve patient outcomes in oncology and gastroenterology.