Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in men with penile carcinoma is associated with increased prevalence of human papilloma virus infection and younger age at presentation.

BACKGROUND: We investigated the prevalence of HIV and human papilloma virus (HPV) infection in men with penile carcinoma. METHODS: This retrospective study investigated all men with penile carcinoma at the Universitas Academic Hospital in Bloemfontein, South Africa (January 2000-December 2008). Patients' age, HIV status, histological type of carcinoma and evidence of HPV infection were recorded. Statistical analyses included Student's t-test and Fisher's exact test where appropriate (2-tailed p-value < 0.05 indicated statistical significant). RESULTS: Among 65 patients (mean age 50.9 years, range 37-69), the most common histological type was squamous cell carcinoma (80.0%). HIV status was known for 48 patients; 27 (56.2%) were HIV-positive. The mean age at presentation was 43.7 years (range 26-69) years in the HIV-positive and 57.2 years (range 26-89) years in the HIV-negative group. Approximately 55% of HIV-positive and 24% of HIV-negative patients showed histological evidence of HPV infection (p = 0.04). No significant difference was found with regard to histological type of carcinoma. CONCLUSION: Patients with penile carcinoma had a high prevalence of HIV infection. The HIV-positive group were significantly younger at presentation, with a higher prevalence of HPV infection, suggesting that HIV may contribute to HPV-associated penile cancer at a younger age.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in men with penile carcinoma is associated with increased prevalence of human papilloma virus infection and younger age at presentation

Background: We investigated the prevalence of HIV and human papilloma virus (HPV) infection in men with penile carcinoma.Method: This retrospective study investigated all men with penile carcinoma at the Universitas Academic Hospital in Bloemfontein, South Africa (January 2000­December 2008). Patients' age, HIV status, histological type of carcinoma and evidence of HPV infection were recorded. Statistical analyses included Student's t-test and Fisher's exact test where appropriate (2-tailed p-value < 0.05 indicated statistical significant).Results: Among 65 patients (mean age 50.9 years, range 37­69), the most common histological type was squamous cell carcinoma (80.0%). HIV status was known for 48 patients; 27 (56.2%) were HIV-positive. The mean age at presentation was 43.7 years (range 26­69) years in the HIV-positive and 57.2 years (range 26­89) years in the HIV-negative group. Approximately 55% of HIV-positive and 24% of HIV-negative patients showed histological evidence of HPV infection (p = 0.04). No significant difference was found with regard to histological type of carcinoma.Conclusion: Patients with penile carcinoma had a high prevalence of HIV infection. The HIV-positive group were significantly younger at presentation, with a higher prevalence of HPV infection, suggesting that HIV may contribute to HPV-associated penile cancer at a younger age

The histology of nasopharyngeal masses: a comparison between HIV positive and HIV negative patients.

The aim of this study was to compare the histology of nasopharyngeal masses of HIV positive and HIV negative patients and to determine the prevalence of malignancy in nasopharyngeal masses in HIV positive patients. The records of all patients who had nasopharyngeal biopsies performed at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Universitas Academic Hospital between January 2006 and December 2011, were reviewed and 151 patients were identified. The HIV status of 110 of these patients was known: 78 (70.9 %) were HIV positive and 32 (29.1 %) were HIV negative. The CD4 count was known in 63 (80.8 %) of the HIV positive patients with the median CD4 count being 275 cells/µl (14-712 cells/µl). Most nasopharyngeal masses in HIV positive patients were benign. Malignancies were significantly more common in the HIV negative group than in the HIV positive group, with six (7.7 %) of the nasopharyngeal masses in the HIV positive group being malignant, while eight (25 %) of those in the HIV negative group were malignant. Most nasopharyngeal masses in HIV positive patients are due to lymphoid hyperplasia. The presence of large cervical lymphadenopathy should alert one to the possibility of a malignancy rather than a benign disease process.

Malignant mesothelioma with intracytoplasmic crystalline inclusions.

A 60-year-old female presented with a history of hoarseness, cough, chest pain, and dyspnea and a needle biopsy sample was submitted for histology. Light microscopy showed sheets of tumor cells with eosinophilic cytoplasm containing multiple crystals and eccentrically located nuclei. Electron microscopy showed large intracytoplasmic crystalloid inclusions. No crystalloid structures were found extracellularly. The tumor cells also had long slender microvilli and cell junctions, the features being consistent with a malignant epithelial mesothelioma. In the authors' experience this is a rare finding. The clinical information initially received was poor and electron microscopy was essential in making the correct diagnosis.

The ultrastructural features of plasmablastic lymphoma.

Plasmablastic lymphoma was originally described in 1997 by Delecluse et al. and is an aggressive variant of diffuse large B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma seen predominantly in a setting of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and nearly always in extranodal sites. The authors have seen 10 cases in their department between 2001 and 2005. The patients' ages ranged from 24 to 39 years and there were 7 females and 3 males. In 7 cases where human immunodeficiency virus had been tested it was positive. Eight cases were extranodal and 2 cases involved lymph nodes. Five cases were followed up and 4 were confirmed dead within 5 months of diagnosis, verifying the aggressive nature of this condition. Histology showed large, polygonal tumor cells some of which had a slightly plasmacytic appearance. Six cases had a "starry sky" background. Immunohistochemical stains were negative in 1 case, while the other 9 cases were positive for CD138. Electron microscopy showed concentrically arranged rough endoplasmic reticulum in the cytoplasm in 9 cases. In 1 case the cells were too degenerate for evaluation. This study shows that the ultrastructural features are well developed and can help in distinguishing plasmablastic lymphoma from other light microscopically undifferentiated tumors.