Burkitt lymphoma in the Côte D'Ivoire from 1966 to 1995: a progress report.

BACKGROUND AND PROCEDURE: Eighteen years of experience with Burkitt lymphoma (BL), the most common form of childhood cancer in the Ivory Coast, has been reviewed and the epidemiology analyzed.

RESULTS

BL is more commonly found in wooded areas than savannahs by a factor of 5:1. Despite good responses to cyclophosphamide-based chemotherapy, chances for survival are often dictated by socioeconomic factors that limit optimal care.

CONCLUSIONS

Better public health measures and improved education and socioeconomic conditions are needed if the fruits of earlier and more aggressive therapies are to be gathered.