Carcinoma of the scrotum in a Young man with HIV Infection: Is there a Possible Association?

Squamous cell carcinoma of the scrotum is rare and its occurrences in the young is even rarer. A 39-year-old gentleman presented with a large non-healing ulcer developing on his left hemi-scrotum 9 months after the excisional biopsy of multiple pruritic nodular lesions on the scrotum. On histological examination it was found to be squamous cell carcinoma. Examination under anaesthesia revealed that the tumour was not resectable and patient was offered radiotherapy. Historically, scrotal carcinoma is occupation related, but none of the occupational predisposing factors was identified in this patient. Patient was however, found to be positive for HIV 1. We suggest that the occurrence of scrotal carcinoma which is normally seen in elderly men in a young man might be due to the associated HIV infection. NQJHM Vol. 16 (3) 2006: pp. 93-9