[Radiotherapy in HIV positive patients]

HIV-positive Patients often suffer from the symptoms of accompanying diseases. Palliative radiation therapy of associated tumors leads to an improvement of the patient's condition. Particularly skin tumors, which give rise to pronounced itching and ulcerating, are eliminated fast and safe by radiation therapy. Between 1984 and 1988, 6 HIV patients with Kaposi's sarcoma at different sites, and one HIV-patient with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were treated by radiation therapy. Depending on tumor site, photons or fast electrons were used. Cosmetic results were satisfying or even excellent in all patients. With one exception complete local tumor control was obtained. Side effects leading to a peace of treatment did not occur.