Head and Neck Lymphomas in HIV Patients: a Clinical Perspective

Abstract

Introduction Because of the many HIV-related malignancies, the diagnosis and treatment of lymphoma in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus are challenging. Objective Here, we review current knowledge of the pathogenesis, epidemiology, symptomatology, diagnosis, and treatment of head and neck lymphomas in HIV patients from a clinical perspective. Data Synthesis Although Hodgkin's lymphoma is not an AIDS-defining neoplasm, its prevalence is ten times higher in HIV patients than in the general population. NHL is the second most common malignancy in HIV patients, after Kaposi's sarcoma. In this group of patients, NHL is characterized by rapid progression, frequent extranodal involvement, and a poor outcome. HIV-related salivary gland disease is a benign condition that shares some features with lymphomas and is considered in their differential diagnosis. Conclusion The otolaryngologist may be the first clinician to diagnose head and neck lymphomas. The increasing survival of HIV patients implies clinical and epidemiological changes in the behavior of this disease. Early diagnosis is important to improve the prognosis and avoid the propagation of HIV infection.

Clinicopathological analysis of oral plasmablastic lymphoma: A systematic review

“…Most of the oral PBL presented as asymptomatic swellings, frequently associated with ulcerations and bleeding. B‐symptoms were absent in most cases, suggesting a more local involvement of the disease in most of the cases, what is consistent with the large number of cases classified as Ann Arbor stage I, although stage IV diseases were also frequent . A previous review of 228 cases of PBL also revealed a similar result, although the majority of cases involved extraoral sites …”

“…A high number of cases affect extranodal sites, including the oral cavity and jaw bones, representing approximately 2% of all primary extranodal lymphomas . In the oral cavity, lymphomas more frequently originate from B cells, being usually diagnosed as diffuse large B‐cell lymphomas (DLBCL) …”

Spectrum of HIV Associated Malignancies: A Retrospective Study of 42 Patients over a Period of 16 Years Attending a Tertiary Care Hospital

“…In addition, with significant improvement in HIV control and immune function, autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) can be a therapeutic option in selected patients, as is the case in their HIV negative counterparts. [26] In our study, we encountered an extremely rare case of primary skull bone NHL. Only 32 such cases have been reported in the literature till now, and of these only four cases were associated with AIDS.…”

Diagnostic Interval in Extranodal Non-Hodgkin Head and Neck Lymphomas

“…), and complementary examinations (orthopantomography, CT-Scan, MRI, etc.) [23,24]. Particularly, this awareness should be applied to risk groups associated with long diagnostic intervals.…”