Biopsy material from a series of 6 Ugandan cases of Burkitt lymphoma was examined in thin sections with the electron microscope. At the fine structural level, the tumors were composed of large numbers of typicallymphoblasts with some reactive macrophages scattered in between. Rare plasma cells were observed in 4 tumors. An amorphous matrix filled the intercellular spaces; fibroblasts with collagen and capillaries lined by endothelial cells were also present. Projections of the nuclear envelope, corresponding to those of cultured lymphoblasts of established in vitro strains, were observed in the tumor cells in situ. The projections are thus an inherent attribute of the Burkitt tumor and not the result of cultivation in vitro. The cytoplasmic nature of the material enclosed by the projections has been established by the finding of mitochondria and centrioles within them. The results are discussed.
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Achong et al. (1966) studied this question.