title: Esophagectomy in a patient with AIDS.
abstract: As the life expectancy of AIDS patients continues to increase due to improved anti-retroviral therapy less of these patients die of HIV-related illnesses. Dysphagia is a common complaint in AIDS patients and usually results from a fungal esophagitis. While cancer of the esophagus is occasionally found in AIDS patients, we report our experience with an AIDS patient diagnosed with a squamous cell esophageal malignancy who received pre-operative radiation and chemotherapy, followed by transhiatal esophagectomy. The patient is alive 16 months post-operatively. The transition of HIV/AIDS from an acute fulminant disease to a chronic condition mandates that these patients should receive full and standard therapy for their esophageal malignancies.
authors.affiliation: University of Massachusetts Medical School, Division of Thoracic Surgery, Worcester, MA, USA.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Issa
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Podbielski
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Fontaine
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Connolly
authors.forename: W V
authors.initials: WV
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Fraire
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D016629:Esophagectomy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male