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| Year : 2010 | Volume
: 27
| Issue : 3 | Page : 112 |
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| Burkitts lymphoma of the small intestine: A cytological diagnosis |
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Ritesh Sachdev
Super Religare Laboratories (Formerly, SRL Ranbaxy Pvt. Ltd.), Clinical Reference Lab, Sector-18, Udyog Vihar, Gurgaon, India
Click here for correspondence address and email
| Date of Web Publication | 21-Oct-2010 |
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How to cite this article:
Sachdev R. Burkitts lymphoma of the small intestine: A cytological diagnosis. J Cytol 2010;27:112 |
Sir,
We describe a case of Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) of the small intestine diagnosed on ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). BL is a high-grade lymphoma usually involving the mandible and the intestines. An early diagnosis is paramount for prompt and effective management. FNAC forms a rapid and effective tool towards an early detection of these lymphomas. A 5-year-old boy presented with abdominal discomfort and progressively increasing abdominal mass. The computed tomography (CT) scan revealed markedly thickened bowel loops with multiple enlarged lymph nodes. There were well-defined hypoechoic nodular lesions in both the kidneys. A suspicion of lymphomatous origin was raised. Ultrasound-guided FNAC was performed through the thickened bowel. Smears were stained with Giemsa and Papanicolaou stains. Many monomorphic, round to oval single cells were identified. These cells displayed a high nucleo-cytoplasmic ratio, vesicular chromatin and prominent cytoplasmic vacuolization [Figure 1]. Many lymphoglandular bodies were seen scattered in the background. A cytological diagnosis of BL of the small intestine was made. The patient was put on a chemotherapeutic regimen, which resulted in the regression of the abdominal mass. | Figure 1 :Lymphoma cells with vesicular chromatin and prominent cytoplasmic vacuolization. Background shows lymphoglandular bodies (Giemsa, x400)
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The small intestine is a common site of BL in children and is associated with multisystem lesions. Abdominal mass, bone marrow and central nervous system involvement are poor prognostic markers. [1] Total tumor burden is the principal determinant of prognosis. FNAC, along with other ancillary techniques, provides a rapid and simple tool for early diagnosis and treatment. Ogawa et al. [2] used FNAC as a primary tool in the diagnosis of BL of bilateral breasts. Das et al. [3] studied 40 cases of BL and found the intra-abdominal location as a common location in Indian patients. FNAC under guidance can help in a rapid diagnosis, thereby assisting in an early treatment in these high-grade lesions.
 Acknowledgement | |  |
The author would sincerely like to thank Dr. Aparna Ahuja, Dr. Simi Bhatia and the Executive Director, Dr. Amar Dasgupta, for their constant support and guidance.
| References | | |
| 1. | Raab N, Heller T, Kröger J, Freund M, Nizze H, Rolfs A, et al. Intestinal lymphoma. A long diagnostic path. Med Klin (Munich) 1999;94:345-52.  |
| 2. | Ogawa T, Mizutani M, Yabana T, Miyahara S, Murabayashi K. A case of Burkitt's lymphoma involving both breasts. Breast Cancer 2005;12:234-7. [PUBMED] [FULLTEXT] |
| 3. | Das DK, Gupta SK, Pathak IC, Sharma SC, Datta BN. Burkitt-type lymphoma. Diagnosis by fine needle aspiration cytology. Acta Cytol 1987;31:1-7. [PUBMED] |
Correspondence Address:
Ritesh Sachdev
A 803, Plot 7A, Navrattan Apartments, Sector 23, Dwarka, New Delhi - 110 075
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/0970-9371.71879
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