Burkitt Lymphoma Mimicking an Acute Appendicitis in a 17 Years Old Boy: a Case Report

Burkitt lymphoma belongs to the B cell non-Hodgkin tumors and is known as the fastest growing human tumor. It is mostly seen in children and young adults. Typically for this type of lymphoma is the chromosomal translocation that leads to a deregulated expression of the c-myc oncogene. Our case report describes a 17 year old patient who presents with atypical right lower quadrant pain. He underwent an explorative laparoscopy and a Burkitt lymphoma was discovered. Subsequently several imaging studies were performed to stage the disease. Intensive systemic chemotherapy is the choice of treatment. Surgery can have a role in early stages and acute complications of the tumor but frequently the role of surgery is restricted to histological biopsy.

Alveolar echinococcosis in a Belgian urban dweller

Human alveolar echinococcosis is a rare parasitic disease caused by larvae of the tapeworm E. multilocularis that colonizes the intestines of foxes. The disease predominantly affects the liver and mimics slow growing liver cancer. With a mere 13 reports coming mostly from southern rural regions Belgium has so far been spared from the disease. However alveolar echinococcosis appears to be slowly spreading to non-endemic European countries like Belgium and to urban centres. We report the first autochthonous case involving a patient having lived exclusively in downtown Brussels. Heightened awareness by the medical community is necessary to detect this lethal disease at an early curable stage. In patients with an undetermined focal liver lesion--especially if calcified--and no firm evidence of malignancy, serological screening should be performed to exclude alveolar echinococcosis.