[Durgical](https://durgical.com/en/) › [DurgiPedia](https://durgical.com/en/durgipedia/) › [General pathology](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/) › [White cells, lymph nodes, spleen and thymus](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/areas/hematolymphoid/) › Burkitt lymphoma

# Burkitt lymphoma

- Lesion

One of the fastest-growing human tumours: B cells driven by MYC, with a starry-sky pattern. It is curable with intensive treatment.

Updated Nov 12, 2026

## Key points

- t(8;14) MYC::IGH in most cases; t(2;8) and t(8;22) join MYC to the κ or λ light-chain loci.
- Starry sky: tingible-body macrophages full of apoptotic debris scattered among sheets of tumour cells.
- Ki-67 near 100%; CD10, CD20 and BCL6 positive, BCL2 negative.
- Endemic form: jaw and facial bones, kidneys, ovaries, adrenals; linked to EBV and to falciparum malaria.
- Sporadic form: ileocaecal mass; can cause intussusception.

On this page

- The basics Key points
- What it is
- Structure
- Step by step
- The three forms of Burkitt lymphoma
- Markers
- Memory aid
- Elsewhere in DurgiPedia

- Clinical Clinical notes

- Study Test yourself

- Connections Connections

## What it is

Burkitt lymphoma is a highly aggressive tumour of germinal centre-type B cells defined by translocations that put MYC under the control of an immunoglobulin locus. Three forms share the same histology: endemic (equatorial Africa, children, jaw and abdominal organs, nearly always EBV-positive), sporadic (children and young adults worldwide, ileocaecal and abdominal masses) and immunodeficiency-associated (often HIV). Almost every tumour cell is dividing, so masses grow in days.

## Structure

- Diffuse sheets of medium-sized cells with round nuclei, several small nucleoli and deeply basophilic cytoplasm containing lipid vacuoles.
- Very high mitotic and apoptotic rates.
- Interspersed pale macrophages create the starry-sky appearance.

## Step by step

- In a germinal centre B cell, AID-induced DNA breaks join MYC to an immunoglobulin locus.
- Immunoglobulin enhancers drive MYC to very high levels; point mutations further stabilize it.
- MYC switches on aerobic glycolysis (Warburg effect) and biosynthesis, so cells grow and divide nonstop.
- Cooperating mutations (TCF3 pathway, cyclin D) sustain growth; EBV or HIV-related immune failure may help early on.

## The three forms of Burkitt lymphoma

| Form | Who and where | EBV | Usual site |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Endemic | Children in malaria-endemic equatorial Africa | Almost always positive | Jaw, facial bones, abdominal organs |
| Sporadic | Children and young adults worldwide | Minority positive | Ileocaecum, peritoneum |
| Immunodeficiency-associated | People with HIV or other immunosuppression | Variable | Nodes, marrow, extranodal sites |

## Markers

- CD20
- CD10
- BCL6
- BCL2 negative
- Ki-67 near 100%
- MYC

## Clinical notes

- Rapid tumour growth causes tumour lysis syndrome once treatment starts.
- Intensive short-course chemotherapy cures most children and many adults.

## Memory aid

Eight fourteen, MYC at the wheel: the starry night sky of a tumour that never sleeps.

## Test yourself

Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.

## Which gene is translocated in every Burkitt lymphoma?

MYC, usually joined to IGH in t(8;14).

## What produces the starry-sky pattern?

Tingible-body macrophages that have engulfed apoptotic tumour cells, scattered among dark sheets of tumour cells.

## Where does sporadic Burkitt lymphoma typically present?

As an ileocaecal or peritoneal mass.

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## Elsewhere in DurgiPedia

- [B-cell activation, class switching and affinity maturation](https://durgical.com/en/immunology/b-cell-activation-class-switching-and-affinity-maturation/)

## Connections

## Related 4

- [Oncogenes: RAS, MYC, HER2, BCR-ABL and the table to know](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/oncogenes-ras-myc-her2-bcr-abl-and-the-table-to-know/)
- [Oncogenic viruses and H. pylori: the table to know](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/oncogenic-viruses-and-h-pylori-the-table-to-know/)
- [Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/diffuse-large-b-cell-lymphoma/)
- [Tumours of infancy and childhood](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/tumours-of-infancy-and-childhood/)

## Related conditions 3

- [Non-Hodgkin lymphoma](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/non-hodgkin-lymphoma/)
- [HIV infection and AIDS](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/hiv-infection-and-aids/)
- [Malaria](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/malaria/)

## Microorganisms 3

- [Epstein–Barr virus](https://durgical.com/en/microbiology/epstein-barr-virus/)
- [Plasmodium falciparum](https://durgical.com/en/microbiology/plasmodium-falciparum/)
- [Human immunodeficiency virus](https://durgical.com/en/microbiology/human-immunodeficiency-virus/)

[← All of general pathology](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/)

Educational content on the mechanisms of disease; not a diagnostic or treatment guide and no substitute for a health professional's advice. No doses are given.

Sources: [Burkitt lymphoma: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia](https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001308.htm) (MedlinePlus, US National Library of Medicine, 2026); [Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Treatment (PDQ®)–Patient Version](https://www.cancer.gov/types/lymphoma/patient/adult-nhl-treatment-pdq) (National Cancer Institute (NCI), 2026).

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Representative model, for educational purposes only.

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License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Cite as: DurgiPedia (durgical.com), https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/burkitt-lymphoma/