Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lower Lip Complicating a Recurrent LabialHerpes During HIV Infection: a Case Report

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the main cancer of lips; it is increasingly diagnosed in HIV-positivepatients. In most cases, there are factors that promote his occurrence. We report a case of an HIV-positive woman withSCC of the lower lip complicating recurrent labial herpes.Medical observation: It was a case of a 40-year-old female received in consultation for a painful and ulcerous lesionof her lip lasting 5 months. She was a HIV-positive patient diagnose since 2007 and on Highly Active AntiretroviralTherapy since that time. She was taking alcohol, was exposed to sunlight regularly, and had presented many episodesof labial herpes in the past. On clinical examination she had a painful ulcero-crustal medallion measuring 2.5centimeters in diameter, with a papular edge of pearlescent appearance of the lower lip. Given this clinical picture,the diagnosis of chronic decaying herpes labialis with in differential an epithelial tumor (in particular a squamouscell carcinoma of the lower lip) was mentioned. After surgical excision, an anatomopathological analysis of thepart confirmed the diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma. At the time of diagnosis, the patient had a respective CD4and CD8 level of 939 and 964 cells / mm3. The evolution was marked 6 weeks later by the scarring with completeepithelialization of the site of the lesion.Conclusion: SCC of the lips is a frequent cancer occurring during HIV infection; there are many risk factors whichpromote his occurrence. Earlier the treatment is instituted, better is the prognosis.