Course Description
Infection from the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has been one of the most destructive and contentious public health crises of the modern era. Once considered a “death sentence,” acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), secondary to HIV infection, was the leading cause of death of young Americans between 1987 and 1995, when the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (ART) revolutionized treatment by addressing many of the infection’s medical sequelae. Despite this therapeutic advance, the risk of cancer and cancer-related mortality is still higher in patients infected with HIV than in noninfected individuals. HIV-infected patients also are diagnosed with malignancies at a younger age, with higher tumor grades, and at later disease stages; these cancers also follow a more aggressive course and have a poorer prognosis, compared with those in non-HIV–infected individuals. A number of AIDS-defining malignancies have been identified, including Kaposi sarcoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and cervical carcinoma. Other non-AIDS–defining cancers are also common in this patient population, among them Hodgkin lymphoma and malignancies of the anus, lungs, liver, and head and neck. Several other conditions mimic the features of malignancy, and differentiating between the several neoplastic and nonneoplastic conditions is essential to good clinical management in HIV-infected patients. Imaging studies can be particularly useful in making an early and accurate diagnosis of patients with AIDS-related cancers, distinguishing overlapping presentations, and informing clinical decision-making.

Learning Objectives
After reading this article, the participant should be able to:

• SUMMARIZE the epidemiological and pathophysiological features characteristic of AIDS-related cancers.
• NAME the several AIDS-defining and non-AIDS defining cancers and their imaging features.
• EXPLAIN how the imaging findings of HIV-related malignancies can contribute to improved patient management.
• DISTINGUISH the imaging mimics of cancer as they present in HIV-infected patients.

In order to receive CE credit, you must first complete the activity content. When completed, go to the "Take CE Test!" link to access the post-test.

Submit the completed answers to determine if you have passed the post-test assessment. You must answer 6 out of 8 questions correctly to receive the CE credit. You will have no more than 3 attempts to successfully complete the post-test.

Participants successfully completing the activity content and passing the post-test will receive 1.0 ARRT Category A credit.

Approved by the American Society of Radiologic Technologists for ARRT Category A credit.

Approved by the state of Florida for ARRT Category A credit.

Texas direct credit.

This activity may be available in multiple formats or from different sponsors. ARRT does not allow CE activities such as Internet courses, home study programs, or directed readings to be repeated for CE credit in the same biennium.