Department of Human Pathology and Oncology, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
Hematol Oncol. 2010 Jun;28(2):53-6. doi: 10.1002/hon.916.
Burkitt Lymphoma (BL) is listed in the World Health Organization (WHO) classification of lymphoid tumours as an 'aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma', characterized by a high degree of proliferation of the malignant cells and deregulation of the c-MYC gene. The main diagnostic challenge in BL is to distinguish it from diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). While in children BL and DLBCL types probably do not differ clinically, and the differential diagnosis between BL and DLBCL may theoretically appear clear-cut, in adults daily practice shows the existence of cases that have morphological features, immunophenotypic and cytogenetics intermediate between DLBCL and BL, and cannot be classified with certainty in these categories. Distinguishing between BL and DLBCL is critical, as the two diseases require different management. This review summarizes the current practical approach, including the use of a large panel of antibodies, and cytogenetic and molecular diagnostic techniques, to distinguish between BL, DLBCL and the provisional category of 'B-cell lymphoma, unclassifiable, with features intermediate between diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and Burkitt lymphoma', now listed in the updated WHO classification.
伯基特淋巴瘤（BL）在世界卫生组织（WHO）的淋巴肿瘤分类中被列为“侵袭性 B 细胞非霍奇金淋巴瘤”，其特征是恶性细胞的高度增殖和 c-MYC 基因的失调。BL 的主要诊断挑战是将其与弥漫性大 B 细胞淋巴瘤（DLBCL）区分开来。虽然在儿童中，BL 和 DLBCL 类型在临床上可能没有区别，而且 BL 和 DLBCL 之间的鉴别诊断理论上可能是明确的，但在成人中，日常实践表明存在形态特征、免疫表型和细胞遗传学介于 DLBCL 和 BL 之间的病例，并且不能确定属于这些类别。区分 BL 和 DLBCL 至关重要，因为这两种疾病需要不同的治疗方法。这篇综述总结了目前的实用方法，包括使用大量抗体、细胞遗传学和分子诊断技术，来区分 BL、DLBCL 和“B 细胞淋巴瘤，无法分类，弥漫性大 B 细胞淋巴瘤和伯基特淋巴瘤之间的特征中间型”，现在被列入更新后的 WHO 分类。
