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What is Burkitt lymphoma?

Burkitt lymphoma (also called small noncleaved cell lymphoma) is a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a cancer in the lymphatic system. Burkitt lymphoma is the most common type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in children. It often grows first in the lymph tissue of the head and neck, including the tonsils, or in the abdomen. It grows rapidly, so symptoms often progress very quickly and children can become quite sick within a few days to weeks. Today, more than 90% of children with Burkitt lymphoma are cured of the disease.

How we care for Burkitt lymphoma

Children with lymphoblastic lymphoma are treated at Dana-Farber/Boston Children's through the Lymphoma Program in our Hematologic Malignancy Center. One of the top pediatric cancer centers worldwide, Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s combines the expertise of a premier cancer center — Dana-Farber Cancer Institute — and a world-class children’s hospital — Boston Children’s Hospital — to provide internationally-renowned care for children with cancer.

Find more in-depth information on Burkitt lymphoma on the Dana-Farber website.

Practitioners Who Specialize In This Condition (5)

Francesca Alvarez Calderon, MD, PhD

Francesca Alvarez Calderon, MD, PhD

Attending Physician, Cancer and Blood Disorders Center
Instructor of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School
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Cancer and Blood Disorders Center

The Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center is an integrated pediatric hematology and oncology program through Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Boston Children’s Hospital.

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