Systemic Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
Lymphomas are malignancies characterized by abnormal, uncontrolled growth of lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell vital to proper immune function. As people with AIDS are surviving longer, more and more cases of AIDS-related lymphoma are being diagnosed. Unlike other AIDS-associated neoplasms like Kaposi's sarcoma, which appears predominantly in homosexual men, lymphomas develop in every population group at risk for AIDS. Within this group three types of lymphomas are generally observed. These include systemic NHL (intermediate or high-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma), primary CNS lymphomas (high-grade NHL lymphomas confined to the central nervous system) and Hodgkin's disease. Usually, patients present with advanced stage disease and rapid progression. Extra nodal involvement in frequently seen. Large cell histology, higher CD4 counts upon diagnosis, lack of extra-nodal disease, good performance status and an absence of opportunistic infections are associated with better prognosis after treatment.
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