We report seven cases of spinal cord compression resulting from Burkit
t lymphoma in boys aged 15 years and below. This became manifest clini
cally as acute or rapidly progressive spinal cord compression. All the
patients showed total paraplegia with a sensory loss at thoracic leve
l and sphincter disturbances. Four patients were operated on, the oper
ation permitting exeresis of an epidural tumor. In three cases surgery
was followed by chemotherapy, One patient was treated exclusively wit
h chemotherapy. Owing to the effectiveness of chemotherapy, surgery sh
ould be considered only in cases of rapid deterioration or for diagnos
tic purposes.