This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Harris, M A Articles by Slevin, N J Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Harris, M A Articles by Slevin, N J

Radical radiotherapy for early laryngeal cancer in a patient with human immunodeficiency virus: no evidence of increased toxicity

¹ Department of Clinical Oncology, Christie Hospital NHS Trust, Wilmslow Road, Withington, Manchester M20 4BX, ² Department of Clinical Oncology, Royal Preston Hospital, Sharoe Green Lane North, Fulwood, Preston PR2 9HT and ³ Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, North Manchester General Hospital, Delaunays Road, Crumpsal, Manchester M8 5RB, UK

There are very few reported cases of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in patients with a background of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. We report a case of a 42-year-old man who developed a T2 N0 left vocal cord well differentiated SCC with an 11 year history of HIV infection. He successfully completed a course of radical radiotherapy 66 Gy in 33 fractions over 47 days. During his treatment he experienced only a grade 1 Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) acute toxicity reaction to the larynx and no weight loss. At 32 months follow up he remains disease free and has no significant late morbidity. Prior to his radiotherapy his CD4 count was 350 cells mm^–3; we discuss the view that the treatment chosen needs to be individually tailored with respect to the patient's immune status.