title: Rapid progression to invasive cervix cancer in a woman infected with the human immunodeficiency virus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous studies have shown an increased risk of cervical dysplasia in women infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), as well as an increased risk of progression to higher-grade lesions. It is not known whether the rate of progression is accelerated over that in immunocompetent women.
  
  
  METHODS
  During September 1991, an HIV-positive woman underwent conization of the cervix showing carcinoma in situ. The surgical margins and endocervical curettings were negative for dysplasia. Papanicolaou smears 4 and 7 months after the conization also were negative. She then presented 33 months postconization with a stage Ib2 cervical carcinoma, which proved resistant to chemotherapy and pelvic radiation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Immunosuppression caused by HIV infection may cause a more rapid progression of cervical intraepithelial lesions to carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, State University of New York-Health Science Center at Brooklyn, USA. kholc@msn.com
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Holcomb
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maiman
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dimaio
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gates
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology