Burkitt Lymphoma with Initial Clinical Presentation due to Infiltration of the Central Nervous System and Eye Orbits

Background

Burkitt lymphoma is a highly proliferative neoplasm derived from undifferentiated lymphocytic cells [1]. This neoplasm is extremely infrequent, and, together with Burkitt-like forms, accounts for only 3–5% of non-Hodgkin lymphomas in immunocompetent adults [2]. Although rare, Burkitt lymphoma affects children more frequently, accounting for 30–50% of pediatric lymphomas in some studies [1]. We report here the case of an adolescent presenting with Burkitt lymphoma displaying an atypical localization in neuroimaging exams.

Case Report

A 17-year-old male without any known immunodeficiencies or comorbidities developed paresthesia and paresis of the right lower limb over a period of 3 months, which progressively worsened. He developed anisocoria due to right eye mydriasis, ophthalmoparesis and ipsilateral palpebral ptosis over 1 week and was then referred for neurological monitoring for photophobia.

The patient was admitted to our hospital with worsening paresthesia, severe headache, vomiting, and lipothymia. He was slightly pale, presenting with mydriatic pupils, ophthalmoplegia of the right eye (cranial nerve III) and ophthalmoparesis of the left eye (cranial nerve VI), palpebral ptosis of the right eye, and paresis of the right lower limb. These clinical manifestations were consistent with compression of the mesencephalic tegmentum, and a computed tomography (CT) scan of the head was then requested, which revealed bilateral and symmetric thickening in the topography of the third cranial nerve, with high uptake of contrast medium (Figure 1). This lesion extended to Meckel’s cave, cavernous sinus, and superior orbital fissures and to the apices and lower portions of the eye sockets, being more evident in the right eye (Figure 2). Also observed were the thickening and high uptake of the pituitary stalk and a small ill-defined lytic lesion in the greater wing of the sphenoid bone, extending to the orbit, pachymeninx, and temporal muscles. The main diagnoses then suggested were tuberculosis, sarcoidosis, lymphoma, and abscess.

Laboratory tests were performed, which showed nonspecific changes. Empirical treatment for central nervous system (CNS) tuberculosis and meningitis of the cranial base was begun. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the skull and eye orbits showed bilateral thickening of the extraocular muscles, isointense in all sequences, in addition to elongated tissue with increased uptake of contrast medium in the topography of the right oculomotor nerve, thickening of the left perimesencephalic cistern, and bilateral obliteration of Meckel’s cave (Figures 3–6). A lumbar puncture showed clear and transparent cerebrospinal fluid that was smear-positive for malignant cells and lymphomatous infiltration. The tuberculin skin test result was non-reactive.

Subsequently, the patient developed intestinal constipation and abdominal pain, and a CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis revealed mild ascites, discrete homogeneous splenomegaly, and 2 lesions located in the pancreas that were hypodense and exhibited increased uptake of contrast medium, resulting in dilatation of the main pancreatic duct and occlusion of the splenic vein with epigastric collateral circulation (Figures 7 and 8). The abdominal CT scan revealed irregular wall thickening in the stomach, jejunum, ileum, cecum, and transverse colon, with signs of intussusception at the ileal lesion (Figures 9–12). Confluent mesenteric lymphadenomegaly next to the jejunal lesion (Figure 10) and hypodense lesions in the right kidney (Figure 7).

The patient developed hematemesis and hemodynamic instability, requiring emergency gastrointestinal endoscopy, whose histopathological finding identified an infiltrative and ulcerated gastric lesion. Hemostasis was performed, and material was collected for biopsy, which revealed Burkitt lymphoma (Figures 13 and 14). A bone marrow biopsy showed the bone marrow to be diffusely infiltrated with blasts, consistent with acute leukemia. The diagnosis of Burkitt lymphoma with leukemization and infiltration of the CNS was then confirmed. The treatment for CNS tuberculosis and meningitis was discontinued, and intrathecal and systemic chemotherapy was initiated. The patient presented with neutropenia and fever, which were treated with cefepime for 11 days. He recovered satisfactorily and was discharged 2 months after hospitalization with the disease in remission.

Discussion

Burkitt lymphoma is the most common form of pediatric non-Hodgkin lymphoma. It has 3 main recognized variants: the endemic form, which occurs mostly in equatorial Africa and is strongly associated with the Epstein-Barr virus; the sporadic form, which occurs worldwide; and the form associated with immunodeficiency, primarily in individuals infected with the human immunodeficiency virus [1–7].

Both the sporadic and endemic forms of Burkitt lymphoma present mainly during childhood [8]. The most common sites of involvement are the jaw, facial bones, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, ovaries, breast, and extranodal sites [9,10]. Abdominal tumors are the most common presentation in sporadic Burkitt lymphoma, whereas mandibular involvement is the most common mode of presentation in the endemic form [10,11].

The involvement of facial bones, including the orbital extension and exophthalmos, are common in the endemic form but rare in the sporadic form, with few cases reported in the literature [12,13]. Burkitt lymphomas primarily involving the brain are extremely rare, with fewer than 10 cases reported in the literature [14–17].

Meningeal involvement and cranial nerve infiltration are the most common CNS presentations of Burkitt and Burkitt-like lymphoma. Meningeal enhancement following intravenous contrast in the T1 sequence of MRI and in a CT scan is the classic finding for this form, but it can be extremely difficult to demonstrate using CT scans [2]. Suprasellar and parasellar tumors that simulate Tolosa-Hunt Syndrome have also been described. An expansive epidural mass with compression on the vertebral canal is the most common presentation of spinal canal involvement [18,19].

MRI is more sensitive in visualizing the involvement of brain lesions and the head and neck [2]. Extracranial head and neck lymphomas tend to present as isointense muscle lesions in the T1 and T2 MRI sequences and with intense and homogeneous uptake of the intravenous contrast medium. The lesions can be permeative and have foci of bone destruction, suggesting malignant lesions with aggressive behavior [13,20].

The imaging findings for Burkitt lymphoma are non-specific, and in addition to other histological types of lymphoma, the differential diagnosis should include malignant neoplasms with rapid cell proliferation and similar signal characteristics in MRI, such as leukemic infiltration, metastatic neuroblastoma, and sarcoma. Plasmacytomas should also be considered, including cases with bone involvement [13]. Due to their multisystemic involvement and epidemiological importance, we also initially considered sarcoidosis and tuberculosis in the differential diagnosis.

In this case, empirical treatment for CNS tuberculosis was initiated even before the diagnosis of Burkitt lymphoma. The empirical treatment was based on clinical and epidemiological data because our region has a high prevalence of tuberculosis. It is also worth noting the delay in performing lumbar puncture. It is important to identify patients who are at risk of cerebral herniation, in which a lumbar puncture would be contraindicated. The clinical features that suggest raised intracranial pressure include papilledema, focal neurology, and reduced consciousness levels [21]. Importantly, our patient had focal neurology and photophobia, in which papilledema is a difficult sign to detect [22]. Thus, we opted to perform a CT scan of the head prior to lumbar puncture.

Conclusions

We describe a rare initial presentation of Burkitt lymphoma. The lesions started in the CNS and ocular region. Subsequently, the patient had multisystem involvement. Thus, we emphasize the need to explore neuroimaging methods that may indicate the initial form of the disease and guide appropriate clinical management.