SPINAL-CORD COMPRESSION RESULTING FROM BURKITTS-LYMPHOMA IN CHILDREN

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.