Features of human acquired immunodeficiency virus-associated non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics, imaging manifestations, and prognosis of patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective study included 92 patients with AIDS-related NHL (ARL), who were treated at the Central South Hospital of Wuhan University between January 2005 and March 2022. Patients were divided into three groups according to their pathological type: diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), Burkitt lymphoma (BL), and plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL). Their clinical characteristics and imaging data were compared. In addition, some computed tomography (CT) features of the tumors were analyzed and summarized. SPSS 26.0 was used for statistical analysis. The prognostic factors were analyzed using the Kaplan–Meier method, Cox proportional risk regression model, and receiver operating characteristic curve. RESULTS: Among the 92 cases, 68 were DLBCL, 19 were BL, and five were PBL. BL patients had a higher risk profile than DLBCL and PBL patients. Most of the tumors had unclear borders, uneven densities on plain and enhanced CT scans, and signs of fusion and necrosis. The analyses indicated that the International Prognostic Index (IPI) score (odd ratio [OR] =15.699, 95% confidence interval [CI] =1.828–134.829, P = 0.012) and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) score (OR = 28.869, 95% CI = 3.015–276.395, P = 0.004) were independent prognostic indicators of the overall survival. CONCLUSIONS: ARL is a heterogeneous and aggressive disease with a poor prognosis. Compared with DLBCL or PBL patients, BL patients have higher risk features. IPI and ECOG scores can effectively predict the prognosis of ARL.