The most common cancer associated with AIDS?

Appeared in: KPSC Staff Nurse - 2015

Explanation

Kaposi sarcoma (KS) is a vascular tumor that is the most common neoplasm in patients with AIDS.
It is caused by an infection with Human Herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8), also known as Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV).
The development of KS is strongly linked to the severe immunosuppression characteristic of advanced HIV infection, particularly when CD4+ T-cell counts are low.
Clinically, it manifests as purplish, reddish, or brown papules and nodules on the skin, but can also affect mucous membranes and internal organs.

Option A: While the risk of Hodgkin's lymphoma is higher in individuals with HIV compared to the general population, it is not the most common cancer associated with AIDS. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and Kaposi sarcoma are more frequent.
Option B: Ewing sarcoma is a rare cancer of the bone and soft tissue that primarily affects children and adolescents. It has no established association with HIV or AIDS.
Option D: Small cell carcinoma is a highly aggressive form of lung cancer. Its primary risk factor is smoking and it is not considered an AIDS-defining illness.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain AIDS-defining malignancies as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
The incidence of Kaposi sarcoma has dramatically decreased in the era of effective Antiretroviral Therapy (ART), which restores immune function and helps control the HHV-8 virus.
For a nurse, identifying potential KS lesions during a skin assessment of an HIV-positive patient is a critical finding that requires prompt reporting to the healthcare provider.
Patient education should include the importance of adherence to ART to maintain a high CD4 count, which is the best protection against KS and other opportunistic illnesses.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core of the question: it asks for the 'most common' cancer specifically in the context of 'AIDS'.
This is a factual recall question. Access your knowledge about AIDS-defining conditions.
Evaluate each option based on its known association with AIDS.
Recall that Kaposi sarcoma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and invasive cervical cancer are the classic AIDS-defining malignancies.
Remember that Kaposi sarcoma was a hallmark of the early AIDS epidemic and remains the most common neoplasm, especially in untreated patients.
Eliminate other options by identifying their primary associations (e.g., Ewing sarcoma with pediatrics, small cell carcinoma with smoking) to confirm the correct answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

QFiDHuq4aQFIEpwjlxDDHN

E6 Medicine Harrison 22e Part 1 p. 1652-1654

E6 Pathology- ROBBINS & COTRAN PATHOLOGIC BASIS OF DISEASE 10TH Ed pp. 263-265, 524-526

Practise the full KPSC Staff Nurse - 2015

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.