Non-African Burkitt lymphoma presenting with oral thrush and an orbital mass in a child.

PURPOSE: To report an unusual case of orbital involvement with non-African Burkitt lymphoma in a child.

METHODS

A 26-month-old boy developed oral thrush and painless right proptosis with eyelid swelling. Magnetic resonance imaging disclosed a diffuse mass involving the inferior, lateral, and superior right orbit and both maxillary sinuses. Incisional biopsy of the orbital mass was performed.

RESULTS

Histopathology disclosed diffuse infiltration of the orbital tissues by a high-grade lymphoid neoplasm that showed positive immunoreactivity for B-cell markers. Immunoglobulin gene rearrangement studies disclosed a characteristic t(8;14) translocation consistent with a small, noncleaved malignant lymphoma of the Burkitt type.

CONCLUSION

Non-African Burkitt lymphoma may manifest with orbital involvement.