Burkitt's lymphoma in children: A 50-year experience at a single mid-Ohio, USA institution

Sixty-two patients with malignant lymphoma, small non-cleaved cell (Burkitt's lymphoma) (BL) have been identified out of 176 patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) diagnosed at or referred to Children's Hospital of Columbus, Ohio during the years of 1945-1995. Diagnoses were updated by a re-review of histology, with additional immunohistochemical studies when required. Forty-three percent of the diagnoses underwent change due to either upgraded terminology or reclassification and designation. These 62 cases represent a close approximation of the total that have occurred in children in central and south-eastern Ohio as Children's Hospital is the only center for tertiary care for this region. This data base was used to review the changes which have occurred during the past fifty years. Fellow-up information, actively pursued on these patients by our Tumor Registry staff since its inception in 1958, was available within the last year for over 90% of these patients. The number of BL diagnosed per year has shown a linear increase over the study period. The reasons for this are discussed, which suggest that there has been a significant increase, at least in recent years. An environmental factor, such as infection, may be involved. Three of four patients with localized disease treated surgically, with or without radiation and no chemotherapy, are surviving without disease after at least 8 years. The clinical features of the entire group of patients are described and compared to the original patients described in Africa. None had jaw involvement, and are similar to other reported cases of BL in the United States. During this time patients with advanced BL have shown a significant increase in their survival rate.