Lung cancer in HIV-infected patients: a one-year experience

The relative incidence and rate of lung cancer in HIV-infected patients com pared with the general US population has been a source of controversy. We s ought to establish these parameters in a cohort of 2616 HIV-infected patien ts. Tumour type, stage of disease, patient demographics and immune paramete rs including viral loads were ascertained. An annual rate of 191 cases/100, 000 population was found, which is 3.01 times greater (95% confidence inter val [CI] = 1.3-7.0) when compared with the general US population and 7.4 ti mes the rate in US males between ages 35 and 54 (95% CI = 3.1-17.8). Three patients had CD4 counts greater than 200 cells/mm(3) at diagnosis and 2 had undetectable viral loads. The mean age was 44 years and all had advanced d isease and short survival. In conclusion, the incidence of primary lung can cer was increased in this cohort of HIV-infected patients and occurred over a wide range of immunosuppression and viral replication.