Abdominal Burkitt-type lymphomas in Algeria

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Oncology
• Hematology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Burkitt-type lymphoma (BL) constitutes a significant portion of childhood non-Hodgkin's lymphomas in Algeria.
• Previous analyses indicated BL accounts for approximately 46.5% of pediatric non-Hodgkin's lymphomas in the country.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze a series of 49 abdominal Burkitt-type lymphomas in children treated at Mustapha Hospital, Algiers.
• To describe the clinical characteristics, treatment outcomes, and associated factors, including Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) status, of pediatric BL in North Africa.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 49 pediatric abdominal BL cases.
• Evaluation of age distribution, sex ratio, disease progression, chemotherapy response, survival rates, and causes of mortality.
• Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) serology and viral marker analysis in tumor cells.

Main Results:

• The study cohort showed a peak incidence between 4-5 years, with a male-to-female ratio of 2.26:1.
• Complete remission (CR) was achieved in 61% of patients, with an overall survival of 42.85%. Patients achieving CR had a 70% survival rate.
• Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) was associated with 88% of the studied BL cases, and characteristic cytogenetic translocations involving chromosome 8 were observed.

Conclusions:

• Pediatric Burkitt-type lymphoma in Algeria is characterized by rapid, aggressive disease presentation and significant challenges in control.
• While complete remission is achievable, survival is impacted by factors such as cerebrospinal fluid involvement and therapeutic complications.
• The high association with EBV and characteristic genetic alterations underscore the need for tailored therapeutic strategies in this region.