Ileocecal Burkitt Lymphoma Following Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy for Rectum Cancer

Introduction: Burkitt lymphoma (BL) is an uncommon form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in adults. It is a rapidly growing tumor with poor prognosis. The endemic form of the disease commonly appears with abdominal pain and symptoms of bowel obstruction. In our case we present a patient with ileocecal BL following chemotherapy and radiotherapy for rectum adenocarcinoma. Case Presentation: A 56-years-old man presented at the emergency department complaining of atypical abdominal pain since a week. The medical history of the patient included rectum adenocarcinoma treated with low anterior resection followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The clinical examination revealed a palpable abdominal mass at the right iliac region. Further exams revealed ileocecal BL. Discussion: BL is a rare cause of abdominal pain in adults. Ileocecal region is commonly affected by the disease. Epstein Barr virus and HIV are the main risk factors for BL. The previous history of chemotherapy and radiotherapy could be potential risk factors for BL and must increase the clinical suspicion of the disease. Rapid initiation of appropriate treatment is the cornerstone for a better outcome.