AIDS-related lymphomas: evaluation by abdominal CT

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Radiology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is linked to an increased incidence of lymphoma.
• AIDS-related lymphomas (ARLs) frequently exhibit advanced disease stages and aggressive histological subtypes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review abdominal computed tomographic (CT) findings in patients with AIDS-related lymphomas (ARLs).
• To compare CT findings in ARLs with those in the non-AIDS population.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of abdominal CT scans from 29 patients with ARL.
• Categorization of patients into Hodgkin disease (HD) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) subgroups.

Main Results:

• Focal splenic and hepatic involvement was more prevalent in ARLs (HD and NHL) compared to non-AIDS lymphomas.
• Mesenteric lymphadenopathy was observed in 20% of AIDS-related HD cases versus <5% in non-AIDS patients.
• AIDS-related non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) showed pelvic nodal masses (37%), bowel involvement (26%), and renal lesions (11%).

Conclusions:

• ARLs are aggressive neoplasms with distinct atypical features on CT scans compared to lymphomas in non-AIDS patients.
• Abdominal CT interpretation for ARLs, particularly in homosexual men, requires consideration of these unique presentations.