ABSTRACT
The acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a major health issue throughout the world, and its incidence relentlessly continues to increase. The advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in recent years has to some extent reduced the magnitude of malignant disease in this special patient group. The types of tumours encountered are particularly rare in the rest of the population and present at a relatively advanced stage in patients who do not tolerate treatment well. Malignant disease can also be the first manifestation of infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and should be considered in those presenting with Kaposi’s sarcoma, high-grade B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and primary cerebral lymphoma. In such patients, risk factors for AIDS should be sought:
■ male homosexual sexual contact ■ sexual contact with an infected heterosex-
ual partner ■ HIV-positive parent ■ intravenous drug abuse ■ blood/blood product transfusion in AIDS
endemic area.
