Squamous cell carcinoma of the anus in patients with AIDS

Squamous cell carcinoma of the anus accounts for 2%-3% of all malignancies of the lower gastrointestinal tract. There is an increased incidence in homosexual males who practise receptive and anal intercourse [1]. We report on three cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the anus in patients with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), all of whom were treated with conventional radiotherapy. Increased normal tissue damage with delayed healing was a severe problem in each patient. This led to prolonged delays in delivering an adequate dose of radiotherapy to the site of disease. Reasons for this are explored and suggestions made for the treatment of such patients in the future.