Lymphoid and Histiocytic Proliferations in Hiv-Positive Patients: Problems in Diagnosis (Editorial) (Report‪)‬

INTRODUCTION HIV infects CD4-positive T-cells, monocytes and dendritic cells, and has profound immunological effects. The effects on the immune system include cellular and tissue manifestations throughout the 'lymphoreticular' system--lymph nodes (LN), spleen, extranodal lymphoid tissues, bone marrow and peripheral blood. These 'lymphoproliferative' disorders encompass pathologies of both neoplastic and non-neoplastic nature (infective or otherwise). Non-neoplastic lesions may precede or coexist with neoplasms [1]. To add to the diagnostic difficulties, there are morphological overlaps between neoplasms, infective pathologies and non-neoplastic/non-infective pathologies. This short review concisely states the situations that cause difficulties in diagnosis, and suggests some useful ways of tackling them.