Otolaryngology: Open Access

Abstracto

Burkitt’s Lymphoma of the Head and Neck in the Pediatric Population: 10 Years’ Experience in ENT Department of the Teaching Hospital in Dakar (Retrospective Study)

Diom ES, Ndiaye C, Ndiaye IC, Tall A, Ndiaye M, Deme I, Diop TM, Diallo BK, Diouf R and Diop EM

Objectives: Clarify the incidence of Burkitt’s lymphoma (BL) during the last 10 years in Senegal.

Design, setting and participants: This descriptive study covering a 10 year period saves cases admitted in the ENT department of the academic hospital of Dakar between 1994 and 2004. It reports the characteristics and difficulties of the management.

Main outcome measure, results: This retrospective study involved 11 patients. The mean age was 9 years. The clinical characteristics were as follows: the majority of patients presented a tumor of the facial bones (10 cases) and only 2 had dental signs. The wolof ethnic group was the most affected. In 6 cases (54%), the maxilla was the site of the tumor. Half of the patients had a of hypochromic microcytic anemia; 8 patients received chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide and 50% had a complete remission.

Conclusion: This is a series relating the frequency and other characteristics of Burkitt’s lymphoma (LB) in the academic ENT department of Dakar in Senegal. There is a gradual disappearance. This retrospective series shows a marked decrease of the LB‘s incidence in Senegal. Senegal could be ranked today among the countries where LB is not endemic. This is the witness of the efforts made in the field of public health by government.