Demographic patterns and clinical features of Burkitt lymphoma among patients visiting Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Kenya

Abstract

Background: Kenya is among the high-risk geographical zones especially for the African- endemic variant of Burkitt Lymphoma (BL). It accounts for up to half of all children cases of non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas in tropical Africa. There is limited published data on the clinico- demographic features of BL at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) despite it being a major center for referral of oncology patients from the North Rift, Western and Nyanza regions of Kenya. Objective: The main objective of this study was to describe the demographic patterns and clinical features of BL among patients attending MTRH from 2017 to 2022. Design: A descriptive cross sectional retrospective study design was used. Results: Out of the 85 cases studied, the most affected ages were between 6-10 years (36%). Males (64%) were affected almost twice more than females (36%). Rift Valley had the highest number of cases (42%), while Western and Nyanza regions contributed 25% each. The abdomen was the primary site of tumor in most cases (54%), while the jaw was affected in 30% of the cases. Combined abdomen and jaw involvement was seen in 4% of the cases. Weight loss was the most frequent symptom (33%), night sweats and fever were also noted. The most common clinical signs were lymphadenopathy (55%) and pallor (23%). Conclusion: Commonly affected age range is between 6-10 years, boys seen to be affected almost twice as much as girls. Rift Valley is the most commonly affected region. The most common presenting complaint is an abdominal mass with associated local symptoms and classical B- symptoms of fever, night sweats and weight loss.