Burkitt Leukemia in a Child with Beta Thalassemia Major

Abstract

Due to the advances in the treatment of patients with beta thalassemia major, their lifespan has increased, and hence, they are exposed to various morbidities including malignancies. In this study, a 4-year-old male child with beta thalassemia major who received regular blood transfusions every four weeks at thalassemia center is described. As he complained of abdominal pain, abdominal ultrasound was performed. The results showed ileocolic intussusception. He underwent surgery by a general surgeon, but there was no follow-up and the patient did not revisit the surgeon. Two months later, a pediatric hematologist-oncologist visited the patient who exhibited symptoms of fever, pallor, weakness, abdominal pain, and abdominal distension. Bone marrow aspiration was done under local anesthesia because the patient suffered from bone pain, anemia, and thrombocytopenia. It was found that bone marrow was infiltrated with more than 90% vacuolated lymphoblast, which confirmed Burkitt leukemia (ALL L3). Flow cytometry analysis also confirmed this diagnosis.

Keywords

• thalassemia major
• burkitt leukemia
• malignancy