BACILLARY ANGIOMATOSIS - A NEW ENTITY IN ACQUIRED-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-SYNDROME

Since the recognition of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in 1981, previously rare infections and neoplasms have become increas ingly common. Bacillary angiomatosis, undescribed in the medical liter ature prior to 1983, is now second in frequency only to Kaposi's sarco ma with respect to the cutaneous manifestations associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Caused by Rochalimaea henselae , bacillary angiomatosis is easily treated, when diagnosed early, with erythromycin. We present two cases of bacillary angiomatosis that pre sented to Toronto General Hospital and review this new and clinically interesting entity. The incidence of bacillary angiomatosis will undou btedly increase as the HIV epidemic ac celerates. Since bacillary angi omatosis commonly affects the head and neck region, it is important fo r the otolaryngologist to become increasingly proficient in its diagno sis and treatment. The current AIDS crisis demands that the otolaryngo logist become aware not only of bacillary angiomatosis, but also of th e other cutaneous head and neck manifestations of HIV infection.