Abstract
We report a case of an asymptomatic human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection that was confirmed by preoperative examination for general anesthesia. A 60-year-old man was referred to our department owing to an irritating tongue pain. Under the clinical diagnosis of leukoplakia of the tongue, preoperative examination for general anesthesia, including the screening test, revealed positivity for HIV. Subsequent confirmatory test results showed positivity for the HIV antibody on the Western blot analysis and a number of HIV-1 RNA copies in the plasma. Thus, a final diagnosis of HIV infection was made. As the number of asymptomatic HIV-infected patients increases, dentists and oral and maxillofacial surgeons may receive several opportunities to incidentally examine these patients. Therefore, they should understand the latest and accurate procedures for diagnosing HIV infections.
