Primary ovarian Burkitt's lymphoma presentation in a young woman: A case report

Burkitt's lymphoma is one of the fastest growing human cancers and it needs a rapid diagnosis. A young woman presented to our institution with acute abdominal pain, tenderness and constipation. Ultrasound reported a right ovarian mass; at laparoscopy, we discovered ascites, peritoneal carcinomatosis and a voluminous pelvic mass. Diagnosis was confirmed as non-Hodgkin sporadic Burkitt's lymphoma: the careful workup was the key to initiate multiagent chemotherapy. Primary ovarian Burkitt's lymphoma, in a young woman in a non-endemic zone, is a rarity that represents a strong diagnostic challenge, but rapid identification can lead the patient to appropriate therapies and improvement of prognosis. •Burkitt's lymphoma is one of the fastest growing human cancers and it needs a rapid diagnosis•A young woman presented acute abdominal pain, tenderness and constipation: after diagnostic laparoscopy, we discovered ascites, peritoneal carcinomatosis and a voluminous pelvic mass.•Diagnosis was confirmed as non-Hodgkin sporadic Burkitt's lymphoma: the careful workup was the key to initiate multiagent chemotherapy.•Primary ovarian Burkitt's lymphoma, in a young woman in a non-endemic zone represents a strong diagnostic challenge because of its rarity, but rapid identification can lead the patient to appropriate therapies and improvement of prognosis.