MCQ Pathology Answer 51

The correct answer is A.

This patient has Burkitt's lymphoma, which is a high grade B cell lymphoma characterized by fields of small, monotonous cells with larger macrophages interspersed (starry sky pattern). This type of lymphoma, also known as small non-cleaved cell lymphoma occurs in both an endemic African form and a sporadic form.

The African form is characterized by the involvement of mandible or maxilla, the sporadic form is characterized by the involvement of bowel, retroperitoneum, or ovaries.. Both types affect children and young adults. the sporadic form accounts for 30% of childhood non-Hodgkin;s lymphoma in the US. Epstein Barr virus is identified in 90% of the African tumors, but only 15-20% of the sporadic forms.

Both types are associated with t(8,14) translocation and express surface IgM, pan B-cell markers, and CD10.The African cases, but usually not the sporadic cases, also express CD21. While untreated Burkitt's lymphoma has poor prognosis , the tumors respond to aggressive chemotherapy

Category: Pathology MCQs