Etiology of Burkitt's Lymphoma—an Alternative Hypothesis to a Vectored Virus

Abstract

The accumulated knowledge of the epidemiological, clinical, therapeutic, and experimental aspects of Burkitt's lymphoma has been considered collectively with regard to the possible etiology. Present evidence strongly suggests an association with both chronic malaria and some virus, the malarial association determining the geographical distribution of the disease. The most tenable hypothesis consistent with all our observed facts is that tumor formation results from interaction between some virus or viruses and a reticuloendothelial system altered by chronic and heavy infection by malarial or other parasites.