Primary Lymphoma of the Liver in AIDS

A case of primary lymphoma of the liver in a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is presented. Persistent fever, tender hepatomegaly, and mildly abnormal liver function tests combined with an elevated lactate dehydrogenase level gave the clue for the diagnosis. High-grade, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of B-cell phenotype was demonstrated by percutaneous liver biopsy. Primary hepatic lymphoma is a rare event among patients with AIDS. We reviewed the cases in the literature and noted that a preponderance of these patients presented with multiple lesions (a rather rare occurrence in primary lymphoma of the liver in patients not infected with the human immunodeficiency virus).