Smooth muscle tumors in children with human immunodeficiency virus infection

Neoplastic disease is an increasing problem in adults with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Kaposi's sarcoma is the indicator disease in 9% and lymphoma in 3% of adult AIDS cases.1 Indeed, the estimated incidence rate of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHLs) reaches almost 50% in adult patients who have survived for up to 3 years while receiving antiretroviral therapy and who have a CD4 count below 50 cells/mm3.2 Children with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection have also been treated and followed up for an extended period of time, but a similar increase in the incidence of malignancies has not yet been described. Through December 1990, only 17 children with NHL and 1 child with Kaposi's sarcoma as AIDS-indicator disease have been reported to the Centers of Disease Control.1