Burkett’s Lymphoma

Clinical

Burkett’s lymphoma is a special type of lymphoma, associated with the Epstein-Barr virus and affecting mainly children. There are two distinct forms, with the American (sporadic) form affects the small bowel. Burkett’s lymphoma typically has a more aggressive course than other childhood lymphomas, with a poorer prognosis.

Radiological

As with other forms of lymphoma, the radiographic appearance can be extremely variable, ranging from circumferential wall thickening with luminal narrowing to irregular fold thickening to a cavitary mass to (rarely) lymphadenopathy.

Burkett’s lymphoma.  Enteroclysis (left) demonstrates separation of bowel loops with irregular fold thickening and luminal narrowing. CT (right) of the same patient confirms the presence of a large cavitary mass in the left abdomen.