Abstract
It has been reported that there is an increased incidence of head-and-neck cancer among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive patients. Treatment of these patients poses difficult management challenges, because their underlying HIV infection can markedly increase morbidity associated with active cancer treatments. However, there are few reports in the literature discussing treatment options for head-and-neck cancer in HIV-positive patients. Here, we report our experience with the treatment of tongue carcinoma that arose in an HIV-positive patient.
A patient in his forties was referred to our hospital seeking treatment for right tongue carcinoma (SCC, T2N0M0). The patient was found to be HIV-positive by a routine preoperative screening blood test. His viral load was low (3400 copies/ml) and CD4 count high (527/μl). The patient underwent partial glossectomy and free skin grafting. Six months after the first surgery, late lymph node metastases were evident. The patient underwent additional radical neck dissection followed by postoperative radiotherapy (1.8 Gy/day, total 63 Gy fractions during 10 weeks). These treatment options were successfully applied without any remarkable side effects or increased morbidity related to the HIV infection. There is no evidence of recurrence or distant metastasis 7 years after the initial treatment.
