Burkitt's lymphoma presenting as mandibular swelling--report of a case and review of publications

The Primary Outbreaks of Burkitt Lymphoma in the Oral Cavity. A Report of Two Cases, Review of the Literature and Dental Implications

Two cases of Sporadic Burkitt’s lymphoma in children aged 11 and 8 years with primary symptoms in the oral cavity are reported. The first symptoms of the disease appeared in the oral cavity and were initially misdiagnosed as an inflammatory condition in one case and incidental findings not associated with the primary reason for visiting the dentist’s office in the second case. Biopsies of the lesions revealed the actual cause of the observed changes and contributed to the prompt initiation of polychemotherapy treatment. A review of current literature presents the known symptoms of Burkitt’s Lymphoma in the oral cavity and the available diagnostic methods. The role of the primary care physicians—the pedodontist and paediatrician—in the diagnostic and therapeutic process is discussed.

Unusual cause of tooth mobility

We describe a case of a 71-year-old otherwise healthy man who presented to the dental clinic with the chief complaint of mobility involving his upper left molar teeth. The patient was a febrile, and clinical oral examination revealed localised grade II mobility and absence of gingival swelling, erythema or sinus tract. Orthopantogram revealed a poorly defined radiolucency involving the upper left second and third molar teeth. Surgical exploration of the involved area was performed and revealed the presence of a 'jelly like' brown tissue that fragments easily. Pathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of diffuse large B cell lymphoma.

Case Report: Sporadic Burkitt lymphoma misdiagnosed as dental abscess in a 15-year-old girl

Background: Burkitt lymphoma (BL) is a non-Hodgkin’s B-cell tumor that can be classified into three variants, based on clinical characteristics and epidemiology: endemic, human immunodeficiency-related and sporadic. Oral sporadic BL is quite an unusual entity, with the gastrointestinal trait being often the first site of appearance.

Clinical finding: A 15-year-old patient that presented a symptomatic swelling of the right maxilla, unsuccessfully treated as a primary endodontic disease, displaying solid tissue on CT scan, “starry sky” pattern on oral biopsy, multifocal bone and lymph node uptake on PET.

Diagnoses, interventions, and outcomes: A diagnosis of stage IV BL was formulated; Rituximab was then administered for three months according to Inter-B-NHL ritux 2010 protocol and CYM (cytarabine and methotrexate) chemotherapy. The patient was followed-up for three years, with no recurrence.

Conclusion: It is important for general dental practitioners to suspect a malignancy in the differential diagnosis of unresponsive odontogenic infections in young healthy patients.

Imaging features of Burkitt lymphoma in pediatric patients

Burkitt lymphoma is an aggressive and rapidly growing tumor that is curable and highly sensitive to chemotherapy. It can affect almost every tissue in the body, producing various clinical presentations and imaging appearances, according to the predilection of the different subtypes for certain sites. Awareness of its diagnostically specific imaging appearances plays an important role in rapid detection and treatment. In this pictorial review, we aimed to identify the most common imaging features of Burkitt lymphoma in pediatric patients.

Maxillary sporadic Burkitt's lymphoma associated with neuro-orbital involvement in an Indian male

Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) is the fastest growing malignancy of the lymphoreticular system to affect humans and has a potential ability to double in size every day. A case of maxillary sporadic BL (sBL) associated with neuro-orbital involvement in an Indian male is presented. sBL initially presented as maxillary swelling with no obvious dental and periodontal changes. Histological specimen from incisional biopsy revealed a round cell malignant tumor and immunohistochemistry reactions favored nonHodgkin's lymphoma consistent with BL. Four weeks later, patient presented with orbital involvement as diplopia, sixth cranial nerve palsy, and medial rectus palsy. Chemotherapy regimen according to LMB 89 protocol was started. During chemotherapy regimen patient showed bradycardia and Babinski response, suggestive of central nervous system involvement. sBL associated with orbital involvement is extremely rare and only seven cases have been reported. Our case showed unusual presentation; despite the aggressive tumor did not show any common clinical, radiological, and hematological findings. We also discussed the role of oral medicine specialist, importance of early diagnosis, and prompt referral in management of maxillary sBL.

Recurrent syncope as presenting symptom of Burkitt's lymphoma at the carotid bifurcation

Burkitt's lymphoma is rare outside of Africa, and head and neck manifestations of this disease are even more uncommon. We report a case of Burkitt's lymphoma localized at the bifurcation of the right common carotid artery in a 64-year-old man. The presenting symptoms were recurrent syncopes that necessitated a pacemaker, followed by a rapid onset of cranial nerve palsies. The tumor had infiltrated cranial nerves IX, X, XI, and XII and was resected by selective neck dissection. The patient was subsequently treated with a chemotherapeutic regimen consisting of a combination of cytosine arabinoside, vincristine, ifosfamide, prednisone, and an intrathecal application of methotrexate. He also underwent external-beam irradiation of the neck. The patient has been followed up for a period of 42 months and has no evidence of recurrent disease. Repeated diagnostic testing and a coordination of multiple disciplines can speed diagnosis and therapeutic management. The current literature is reviewed and discussed.

A Childhood cavernous conundrum

A 9-year-old boy presented with a left-sided "tooth ache." Subsequently, he developed new onset vertical diplopia. He was found to have a left cranial nerve three palsy. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging showed bilateral cavernous sinus lesions that were initially interpreted as possible "cavernous sinus thrombosis." Subsequent blood smear and bone marrow biopsy disclosed Burkitt lymphoma. He was treated with chemotherapy and made a dramatic recovery. Burkitt lymphoma rarely presents with a third nerve palsy but should be considered in the differential diagnosis of childhood cavernous sinus syndrome.