Title: Aspects biologiques et immunophénotypiques de la leucémie à Burkitt à propos de 27 cas, expérience du laboratoire central d'hématologie CHU HASSAN II FES
Authors: Fatima Zahra Koubali ; Oumayma Mahboub , Imane Tlemçani , Moncef Amrani Hassani
Volume: 10
Issue: 7
Pages: 90-97
Publication Date: 2026/07/28
Abstract:
:Burkitt leukemia is a high-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma with bone marrow involvement. The diagnosis is based on bone marrow infiltration >20% by Burkitt-type blasts (medium-sized cells with basophilic cytoplasm and cytoplasmic vacuolization), often associated with systemic manifestations. Although this disease was historically associated with a poor prognosis and a high rate of early relapse, forms limited to isolated bone marrow involvement are extremely rare. The study included 27 patients (median age 9 years, 85% boys) diagnosed with Burkitt leukemia, 66% of whom were initially followed for Burkitt lymphoma. The disease was mainly multivisceral, primarily affecting lymph nodes, the abdomen, the ENT region, and the orbit. Biologically, 44% of patients presented with hyperleukocytosis. Immunophenotyping showed a mature B-cell profile, with surface IgM expression in only one case. EBV serology was positive in 72% of patients. Mortality was very high (25 deaths out of 27 patients), with an average survival of approximately 10 months. Although rare, Burkitt leukemia should be systematically considered in the differential diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). In the presence of a suggestive hematological picture, the diagnosis must be rapidly confirmed by bone marrow examination (myelogram), immunophenotyping, and karyotyping, due to its rapidly fatal course if urgent treatment is not initiated.