Adult Burkitt's lymphoma presenting as ileocecal intussusception

Abstract

Most lymphomas of gastrointestinal tract arise mainly in stomach but can affect small bowel. Burkitt’s lymphoma stands for 9% of the cases of primary small intestine lymphoma and clinical presentations may vary. Case report of a 58-years old man presenting an acute abdomen secondary to intestinal obstruction with tomography revealing an ileocecal mass suspicious for intussusception. Surgery was performed and an invaginating mass from ileum-to-cecum lead to a laparoscopic right colectomy. Histopathological analysis established the diagnosis of ileocecal Burkitt’s lymphoma. Post-operative period was uneventful and the patient was referred to oncohematology and started early chemotherapy. Clinical situations of intestinal intussusception or small-bowel masses presenting with obstruction should rise the suspicion for malignancy and the surgeon must be aware of this clinical entity to proceed with an oncologically safe surgery. Intestinal perforation may indicates surgery as it leads to peritoneal tumor spread and indicates a worse prognosis. Laparoscopic surgery approaches must be seriously considered in selected cases. In intestinal lymphoma, early refer to oncohematology for evaluation and treatment is essential and establishes a better prognosis.