Issue: Vojnosanit Pregl 2017; Vol. 74 (No. 3)
Burkitt lymphoma as a cause of intussusceptions – The significance of positron emission tomography scan in the follow-up
Authors:
Zoran Radovanović, Andjelka Slavković, Zoran Marjanović, Dragoljub Živanović, Ivona Djordjević
Introduction. Burkitt lymphoma (BL) is a high-grade, highrisktype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma characterized by a very
rapid cell progression. Although BL is a rare cause of intussusceptions,
it must arouse suspicion if the intussusception
occurs outside the characteristic peak. Case report. A previously
healthy 7-year-old boy was hospitalized for recurrent
abdominal pain, loss of appetite and body weight, a fever of
up to 38°C, persistent vomiting and with soft tumefaction
ileocecally. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) revealed intussusceptions
due to a tumor mass, which was followed by
a surgical procedure (right hemicolectomy and terminoterminal
anastomosis). Histopathological examination confirmed
the diagnosis of primary abdominal Burkitt lymphoma.
In spite of the subsequent oncologic treatment lasting
for four months, an undifferentiated mass was detected
in the retroperitoneal space below the lower pole of the
right kidney. Positron emission tomography (PET) scan was
performed in order to detect the metabolic activity of the
deposit in the retroperitoneal space. A high metabolic activity
of Burkitt lymphoma confirmed its presence, as well as
the need for additional surgical intervention for tumor extirpation.
PET scan undoubtedly contributed to distinguishing
the visibility of tumor cells and to the detection of the
subcentimeter tumor mass. Conclusion. The timely diagnosis,
high tumor sensitivity to chemotherapy as well as the
great importance of PET scan in the early detection of tumor
recurrence, significantly increase the survival rate in patients
with BL.
