Life threatening retropharyngeal Burkitt′s lymphoma mimicking adenoid obstructive disease

The commonest sites of non-Hodgkin′s lymphoma in the head and neck are the cervical nodes, Waldeyer′s ring and extra lymphatic organs such as the sinuses, larynx, salivary glands and oral cavity etc. We present the case of a 10 year old with upper airway obstruction secondary to retropharyngeal Burkitt′s lymphoma. The presenting features here are very similar to obstructive adenoid enlargement. Emergency tracheotomy, biopsy, and chemotherapy led to resolution and subsequent decanulation. This case is highlighted in relation to the increasing recognition of AIDS related lymphomas globally.