Adenocarcinomas of unknown primary site with thoracic localization and HIV: four case reports.

Introduction, - Non AIDS-defining cancer would have increased in HIV-patien ts as suggested by numerous studies. Four cases of adenocarcinoma of unknow n primary site with thoracic localization that occurred in HIV-infected pat ients are described Exegesis, - To dare, there have been no published data about carcinomas of unknown primary sire relating to HIV-infected patients, however, immunodepr ession could promote them. Carcinomas of unknown primary site account for 0 .5 to 10% of all cancers in general population. Primary carcinoma is identi fied in approximately one third of the cases and often corresponds to lung cancer in case of sus-diaphragmatic metastasis, particularly in case of ple ural metastasis. tung cancer in HIV-infected patients affects mostly youg m en who smoke and are often intravenous drug addicts. Adenocarcinoma is the most common histological type of cancer. Conclusion. - Further studies of lung cancer in HIV-infected patients will help evaluate their frequency. In case of increasing frequency, lung cancer should then be included in AIDS-defining cancers. (C) 1999 Elsevier, Paris .