NON-HODGKINS-LYMPHOMA OF THE MAXILLARY SINUS IN A PATIENT WITH ACQUIRED-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-SYNDROME

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) is one of the most common malignancies in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); it occurs 25-60 times more frequently in HIV-infected patients than in the gener al population. This neoplasm in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AI DS) patients is a highly aggressive tumour with a poor prognosis and t ends to develop in extranodal sites, such as the central nervous syste m, digestive tract and bone marrow. NHL involving the paranasal sinuse s is rare in HIV-infected patients, and is likely to be confused clini cally and radiographically with sinusitis; moreover, its optimal treat ment is currently uncertain. We present a case of NHL involving the le ft maxillary sinus in a patient with AIDS. The patient was treated wit h systemic chemotherapy (low dose-CHOP), but the malignancy did not re spond. Subsequently, he was treated with local maxillary sinus irradia tion which resulted in partial regression of the neoplasm and in decre ase of local symptoms.