Orbital Burkitt lymphoma: a case presentation

Abstract

BackgroundHighly aggressive Burkitt lymphoma (BL) with rapidly progressive painful proptosis of the right eye is rarely encountered.Case presentationA 31-year-old Caucasian female presented with rapidly progressive painful proptosis of the right eye and poor visual acuity. Diagnostic Computer tomography, magnetic resonance imagining and angiography, identified an oval-shaped mass on the medial rectus of the right orbit that caused dislocation of eyeball, for which she underwent medial orbitotomy. The mass was histologically confirmed as BL, and postoperative aggressive chemotherapy (BFM-90) was initiated. BFM-90 reduced the recurrence of strabismus, diplopia, and proptosis, but did not correct deficits in the best corrected visual acuity.ConclusionIn patients presenting with painful proptosis and vision loss, a diagnosis of BL should be considered. In addition, because of the rapid progression of BL, and considering that it responds well to treatment, a diagnostic work-up including a tissue biopsy should be initiated immediately if BL is suspected.

Stage IV Burkitt Lymphoma Presenting with Eyelid Swelling

“…In most cases of orbital involvement, patients usually present with proptosis associated with ocular complaints like blurred vision. 6,7,8,9 Our patient is unique in a way that the main pathology was located within the temporal's area subcutaneous tissue extending into the eyelid without other orbital or visual symptoms and with no systemic complaints. In such cases, clinical diagnosis is a challenge thus rendering tissue biopsy and diagnosis invaluable.…”

“…5 There has been more than 10 cases of sporadic Burkitt lymphoma reported so far. 5,6,7,8,9 Orbital involvement is uncommon in Burkitt lymphoma. In most cases of orbital involvement, patients usually present with proptosis associated with ocular complaints like blurred vision.…”

A B-cell lymphoma case that is unclassifiable, and intermediate between diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and Burkitt lymphoma of lacrimal gland

“…The rapid progression of an aggressive orbital lymphoma results in various clinical symptoms such as painful proptosis and vision loss. 3 If an orbital lymphoma, such as BL and intermediate DLBCL/BL, is suspected, the diagnosis must be confirmed as soon as possible by using methods such as tissue biopsy.…”

Sporadic Burkitt Lymphoma with Orbital Extramedullary Infiltration

“…To our knowledge, this report is the first to photographically depict the resolution of extramedullary orbital subperiosteal leukemic infiltrates after appropriate chemotherapy [2, 5, 9, 10, 13]. …”