A distinction between a case report, case series, and descriptive cohorts is absolutely necessary to enable the appropriate indexing, sorting, and application of evidence. Researchers need better training in methods and terminology, and editors and reviewers should scrutinize more carefully manuscripts claiming to be "case series" studies.

We report seven cases of spinal cord compression resulting from Burkitt lymphoma in boys aged 15 years and below. This became manifest clinically as acute or rapidly progressive spinal cord compression. All the patients showed total paraplegia with a sensory loss at thoracic level and sphincter disturbances. Four patients were operated on, the operation permitting exeresis of an epidural tumor. In three cases surgery was followed by chemotherapy. One patient was treated exclusively with chemotherapy. Owing to the effectiveness of chemotherapy, surgery should be considered only in cases of rapid deterioration or for diagnostic purposes.

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In Sub-Saharan Africa because of the prevailing economy, the equipping of neurological and neurosurgical services, as well the training of younger colleagues remains a recurrent problem. Therefore, all currently available resources ought to be mobilized and put together to obtain very rapid, short-term results. This is not a dream. The forces of the improvement of development lie in our hands.

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