Surgical outcome in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the gastrointestinal tract.
OBJECTIVE
Incidence of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) has shown a dramatic increase, concurrent with the epidemic of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). In terms of surgical intervention, management of the patient with AIDS-NHL remains unclear. Purpose of this paper was to determine the role and outcome of surgical intervention in patients with AIDS-NHL of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.


METHODS
Data were obtained by retrospective chart review.


RESULTS
From 1980 to 1993, charts of 22 patients with diagnosis of AIDS-NHL of the GI tract who underwent either biopsy or surgical procedure were reviewed. All patients were male, with a mean age of 35.7 years. Sixty-seven biopsies were performed in the 22 patients identified. No morbidity or mortality was associated with any of the biopsy procedures. Major intra-abdominal operations were performed in eight patients, including seven who underwent primary resections of lymphomas. Mean survival for the group as a whole was 18 months, although that for the seven patients undergoing resection was 20.4 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Diagnosis of AIDS-NHL of the GI tract should not discourage performance of otherwise appropriate surgical procedures.
Dutta
S C
SC
Department of Surgery, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA.
Simons
A J
AJ
Levine
A M
AM
Ryan
M
M
Anthone
G J
GJ
Beart
R W
RW
D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D016483:Lymphoma, AIDS-Related / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome