As the AIDS epidemic advances, the spectrum of malignancies encountered is expanding. Several non-AIDS defining cancers, i.e. Hodgkin's disease (HD), anal and testicular cancer, are increasing in incidence in HIV-infected patients. The widespread use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in industrialised countries has resulted in substantial improvement in the survival of HIV-infected patients. It is likely that in the future, cancers associated with long-term mild immune suppression will occur at an increased rate in long-term survivors of HIV infection. The natural history of the majority of non-AIDS defining tumours differs from that of the general population. Unusual aspects of tumour localisation, growth behaviour and therapeutical responses distinguish tumours in patients with HIV infection from those without. This paper reviews the most relevant data on the epidemiology, pathology, clinical features and treatment of the most frequently reported non-AIDS defining tumours, i.e. HD, lung, testicular and skin cancers.