Burkitt's lymphoma: obstetric and gynecologic aspects

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Gynecologic Oncology
• Hematology

Background:

• Burkitt's lymphoma, a pediatric cancer, can affect women of childbearing age.
• In non-endemic regions like the US, it often mimics gynecologic issues with abdominal/pelvic masses.

Observation:

• A case of Burkitt's lymphoma in a 17-year-old pregnant patient is presented.
• Pregnancy-associated Burkitt's lymphoma characteristically involves bilateral massive breast enlargement due to metastasis.

Findings:

• The reported patient and 5 prior cases in pregnant women were fatal.
• Prompt diagnosis and multimodal therapy (chemotherapy, radiation) are crucial.

Implications:

• This case highlights the importance of considering Burkitt's lymphoma in pregnant women with unusual presentations.
• Multidisciplinary management involving obstetric, gynecologic, and oncology specialists is essential.
• Further research into optimizing treatment for pregnant patients with Burkitt's lymphoma is warranted.