BURKITTS LEUKEMIA - A RE-EVALUATION

Two patients who presented with acute leukemia of Burkitt''s cell type are discussed. Although 1 patient died within 4 mo. of diagnosis, the other has maintained a 1 yr clinical complete remission. The clinical and morphologic picture of Burkitt''s leukemia is nonspecific and therefore requires complementary studies including cytochemistry, transmission electron microscopy, cell surface markers and cytogenetics studies to establish a diagnosis. Serial bone marrow aspirations with marker analyses may detect relapse at an earlier stage than conventional cytology, allowing therapy to be modified prior to overt clinical relapse.