SQUAMOUS-CELL CARCINOMA IN HIV-POSITIVE PATIENTS UNDER AGE-45

Eight patients 45 years of age and under (range, 29 to 45) with squamo us cell carcinoma of the head and neck and infection with the human im munodeficiency virus are reported. Primary tumor sites include nasopha rynx, oral cavity, oropharynx, and larynx. Probes for the human papill omavirus were positive in two of the patients. Therapy consisted of su rgery followed by radiation therapy in five patients, surgery alone in one patient, and radiation therapy in the remaining two patients. Fol low-up ranged up to 2 years and revealed four deaths, three patients a live without disease, and one patient recently posttreatment with resi dual disease. The significance of the presence of the human papillomav irus in these individuals remains to be determined. The incidence of s quamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck under age 45 is low, and w hether there may be a higher incidence in HIV-positive patients cannot be determined from this small series.