The importance of pursuing a histological diagnosis in the hiv setting

Abstract

A 40-year-old heterosexual African man was admitted with fever, night sweats and lymphadenopathy. His human immunodeficiency virus antibody test was positive. Initial lymph node biopsy revealed reactive hyperplasia only. He was empirically treated for tuberculosis. However, symptoms persisted and a repeat lymph node biopsy was obtained, which confirmed Hodgkin’s disease. This emphasises the need to pursue histological diagnosis in such patients with persisting symptoms.