Anorectal lymphoma and AIDS: an outcome analysis

Primary lymphoma of the anus is an extremely rare problem. In patients with the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), there is a marked increase in gastrointestinal non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL). The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome of patients with anorectal NHL and AIDS.

Over an 18-year period, we identified 6 patients with AIDS and primary anorectal NHL. Five were male. All were high-grade B-cell lymphomas and half showed systemic "B" symptoms. Patient's mean CD4 count was 93 (range 8 to 201).

The average life span for those with "B" symptoms was 6.7 months and 16 months for those without symptoms. No benefit was shown from radiation or chemotherapy in those with "B" symptoms. Younger patients and those without systemic constitutional symptoms of lymphoma do better. One patient without "B" symptoms was able to tolerate his radiation and chemotherapy and is disease free at 10 months.

Despite traditional non-Hodgkin's lymphoma treatment regimens, our AIDS patients (and those examined in a review of the pertinent literature) with anorectal NHL and "B" symptoms have a poor prognosis. For those without "B" symptoms and who can tolerate the therapy, NHL remission may be obtained.