A 25-year-old African man presents with rapidly enlarging jaw mass. Biopsy shows a diffuse proliferation of intermediate-sized B-cells with a 'starry sky' pattern. FISH demonstrates translocation involving chromosome 8q24. Which oncogene is dysregulated by this translocation?

• A BCL2
• B BCL6
• C CCND1
• D MYC ✓

Explanation

Burkitt lymphoma is defined by translocation of the MYC oncogene at 8q24 to an immunoglobulin locus — most commonly t(8;14)(q24;q32) involving the heavy chain locus IGH. MYC overexpression drives uncontrolled cell cycle progression. The 'starry sky' pattern reflects tingible body macrophages engulfing apoptotic debris in a background of rapidly dividing tumor cells. BCL2 translocation characterizes follicular lymphoma, and CCND1 rearrangement defines mantle cell lymphoma.

Reference: Robbins & Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease, 10th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.