Sporadic Burkitt's Lymphoma of the Hypopharynx: A Case Report

Burkitt's lymphoma is a rapidly growing, high-grade B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma that has three distinct variants. Of these, sporadic Burkitt's lymphoma most frequently involves the gastrointestinal system, and the hypopharynx is a rare site of occurrence. Here, the authors report a case of sporadic Burkitt's lymphoma in a 28-year-old male who presented with change of voice as the only complaint. On examination, a mass was found in the hypopharynx that obstructed the laryngeal inlet. The patient underwent an elective examination under general anesthesia and biopsy of the lesion. Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of sporadic Burkitt's lymphoma, following which surgical tracheostomy was performed with complete excision of the mass. A prompt diagnosis is vital to ensure appropriate management of rapidly evolving tumors, such as Burkitt's lymphoma. When diagnosing hypopharyngeal masses, a high index of suspicion is required, as other diseases may appear with similar presentations.