[Squamous cell carcinoma of the bladder in a patient with HIV and paraplegia]

In patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) the rate of squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) among bladder tumors is increased compared to the general population. An increased life expectancy is achieved by modern HIV treatment so that more AIDS-unrelated malignomas, e.g. bladder tumors, occur in these patients. Therefore, the risk for SCC in this group of patients is increased in patients with SCI and HIV but the combination of these two diseases is rare. We report the first case of SCC in a patient with SCI and HIV. Initial symptoms of bladder tumors in patients with SCI are often unspecific; therefore, in cases with new onset hematuria, recurrent urinary tract infections and changes in bladder function, cystoscopy and computed tomography (CT) scanning should be considered.