Burkitt Lymphoma

How to Subscribe
MLS & MLT Comprehensive CE Package
Includes 176 CE courses, most popular
$109Add to cart
Pick Your Courses
Up to 8 CE hours
$55Add to cart
Individual course$25Add to cart
Need multiple seats for your university or lab? Get a quote
The page below is a sample from the LabCE course Body Fluid Differential Tutorial. Access the complete course and earn ASCLS P.A.C.E.-approved continuing education credits by subscribing online.

Learn more about Body Fluid Differential Tutorial (online CE course)
Burkitt Lymphoma

This image is a peritoneal fluid from a patient with stage IV Burkitt lymphoma. While this smear is more cellular than is ideal for optimum evaluation of morphology, it is still possible to recognize the characteristic morphology of the lymphoma cells present.

The Burkitt cells are as large or larger than the few neutrophils present and somewhat resemble other types of lymphoblasts. However, they have coarse dense chromatin with very basophilic and markedly vacuolated cytoplasm.

This cytospin demonstrates the typical cytoplasmic vacuolation of Burkitt lymphoma in which the vacuoles break through the background of dense chromatin and intensely basophilic cytoplasm.