Two successive ocular malignancies in the same eye of a HIV-positive patient: a case report

To report 2 successive ocular malignancies in the same eye of a HIV-positive patient at different CD4 counts.

A 36-year-old retrovirus-positive male presented with no perception of light in the left eye of 1 month duration. CD4 counts were 44 cells/mm(3). Ultrasonography showed an exudative retinal detachment. Retinal biopsy suggested an intraocular B-cell lymphoma for which he received radiotherapy and chemotherapy. He presented 3 years later with a growth in the left eye with CD4 counts of 360 cells/mm(3).

Histopathology of enucleated eye showed a low-grade conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma. At 1-year follow-up, there is no mass in the anophthalmic socket.

This case highlights the development of 2 ocular malignancies in the same eye of an HIV-positive patient, at different CD4 counts, allowing the authors to speculate on additional factors involved in the development of the second malignancy.