CLINICAL CASES   

Otorinolaringologia 2003 March;53(1):33-6

Copyright © 2009 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Non AIDS associated Kaposi’s sarcoma with pharyngo-laryngeal localization

Moretti A., Chiri Z. M., Croce A.

Sezione di Otorinolaringoiatria Dipartimento di Scienze Chirurgiche Sperimentali e Cliniche Università degli Studi “G. D’Annunzio” di Chieti, Chieti

Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS) is a multifocal lesion with an unknown etiology. Probably, it is associated with an immunocompromised condition and, according to some authors, it is related with Human Herpes Virus 8 (HHV8). The disease is classified in 4 types: “classic”, African, transplant-associated and AIDS-related. Otolaryngological manifestations are more frequent in AIDS patients while they are rare in the other forms. Lesions are characterized by multiple reddish nodes that tipically involves skin and mucous regions. When the disease presents more aggressively, internal organs can be involved; this is more frequent in AIDS-associated type while it is rare in the “classic” type which is almost never responsible for the patient’s death. Diagnosis of KS is based on the characteristic clinical identifications and histopathologic findings. The treatment should be adapted to each case. Personal experience in a patient with non AIDS associated Kaposi’s sarcoma and its histopathological and clinical aspects is described.