OBJECTIVETo study the clinicopathologic features of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related lymphadenopathy and to elucidate the salient features helpful in achieving a correct pathologic differentiated diagnosis.

METHODSEighteen cases of AIDS-related lymphadenopathy were retrieved from the files of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University from 2001 to 2004. Histochemical stains, including periodic acid-Schiff, acid-fast, Giemsa, Grocott stains and immunohistochemistry (EnVision method), were used to detect the presence of pathogens in tissue sections and classify them.

RESULTSFifteen of the 18 cases (83%) were stage 4 (i.e. follicular and lymphocytic depletion). Twelve cases were co-infected with Penicillium marneffei and 4 other cases with Mycobacterium, and no pathogen was found in 1. The remaining patient was complicated with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

CONCLUSIONSWhen presented in early stages, AIDS-related lymphadenopathy may be overlooked, especially in routine pathology practice. Awareness of the entity in patients with persistent fever and generalized lymphadenopathy is thus crucial. Florid infection with Penicillium marneffei is also considered as an important predictor for underlying AIDS. Thorough understanding of morphologic features of AIDS-related lymphadenopathy, including possible co-infection, is essential in arriving at the correct diagnosis.

AIDS-Related Complex ; microbiology ; pathology ; AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections ; microbiology ; pathology ; Adult ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Lymphoma, AIDS-Related ; pathology ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mycobacterium ; isolation & purification ; Mycobacterium Infections ; microbiology ; pathology ; Mycoses ; microbiology ; pathology ; Penicillium ; isolation & purification ; Retrospective Studies

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; drug therapy ; genetics ; surgery ; Adult ; Burkitt Lymphoma ; drug therapy ; genetics ; surgery ; virology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Genes, myc ; HIV ; isolation & purification ; HIV Infections ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; genetics ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymphoma, AIDS-Related ; drug therapy ; genetics ; surgery ; virology ; Lymphoma, B-Cell ; pathology ; Lymphoma, Mantle-Cell ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; RNA, Viral ; analysis ; Sarcoma, Myeloid ; pathology ; Translocation, Genetic

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is a risk factor for developing non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Most acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related lymphomas are high-grade B cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. The use of highly active antiretroviral therapy has reduced the incidence of AIDS-related lymphoma. There have been 7 reports of AIDS-related extra-nodal lymphoma in Korea. We report a case of AIDS-related lymphoma detected by MiroCam(R) capsule endoscopy.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/*complications/drug therapy/immunology ; Anti-HIV Agents/therapeutic use ; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active ; *Capsule Endoscopes ; HIV Infections/virology ; Humans ; Jejunal Neoplasms/*diagnosis/pathology ; Lymphoma, AIDS-Related/*diagnosis/pathology ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse/immunology/pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed