Currently, lung cancer is the most common non-AIDS-defining cancer (NADC), with pulmonary adenocarcinoma being the most common histological subtype of lung cancer in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients. Most previous studies have focused on the diagnosis of pulmonary malignancies following HIV infection, while fewer patients being diagnosed with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) following the diagnosis of lung cancer. The present report described the diagnosis and treatment of a young patient with HIV infection complicated with severe, rapidly progressing lung cancer, aiming to improve the understanding of this disease, reduce the number of missed diagnoses and misdiagnoses and improve the prognosis and quality of life for these patients.