[Cancer in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus. The unusual aspects]

CANCER AND HIV INFECTION: As the HIV epidemic advances, the spectrum of non-AIDS defining malignancy is expanding. Recent reports suggest an increased incidence of skin cancers, squamous cell carcinomas of the anus, and Hodgkin's disease in HIV-infected patients. Other neoplasms encountered in this setting include oral mucosa, head and neck carcinoma without evidence of increased incidence. PARTICULAR FEATURES: The natural history of lung, testicle and skin cancer (excepting Kaposi sarcoma) as well as ENT cancer appears to be modified in HIV-infected patients. The main problem raised by these tumors is confounding infection which may lead to late diagnosis or an error in tumor staging.