Gastrointestinal Kaposi sarcoma without cutaneous manifestations in a patient with AIDS: a case report

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22692538

Keywords:

Kaposi sarcoma; HIV infections; immunosuppression; gastrointestinal tract; autopsy; immunohistochemistry; human herpesvirus 8

Abstract

Kaposi sarcoma is a multifocal vascular neoplasm associated with human herpesvirus type 8, whose epidemic form mainly affects patients with advanced immunosuppression due to HIV. We report the case of a 27-year-old man with AIDS in whom autopsy revealed extensive visceral Kaposi sarcoma, with nearly continuous involvement of the gastrointestinal tract and no clinically evident cutaneous lesions. During clinical evaluation, inguinal lymphadenopathy initially raised suspicion of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Fine-needle aspiration suggested Kaposi´s sarcoma, and the diagnosis was subsequently supported by histopathologic examination of the excised lymph node. The clinical course was unfavorable, progressing to multiorgan failure. Autopsy established the true extent of tumor dissemination and demonstrated a marked discordance between the anatomical extent of disease and its clinical expression.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Lurain KA, Ramaswami R, Krug LT, Whitby D, Ziegelbauer JM, Wang HW, et al. HIV-associated cancers and lymphoproliferative disorders caused by Kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus and Epstein-Barr virus. Clin Microbiol Rev [Internet]. 2024 [citado 30 Ago 2026]; 37(3):e00022-23. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1128/cmr.00022-23

Cuellar LE, Meza K, Holguín AM, Velarde J, Portillo-Alvarez D, Castro V, et al. Clinicopathological features and mortality in patients with Kaposi sarcoma and HIV: a retrospective analysis of a thirty-year study from a Peruvian oncologic center. JCO Glob Oncol [Internet]. 2022 [citado 30 Ago 2026]; 8:e2100379. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1200/GO.21.00379

Addula D, Das CJ, Kundra V. Imaging of Kaposi sarcoma. Abdom Radiol (NY) [Internet]. 2021 [citado 30 Ago 2026]; 46(11):5297-5306. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00261-021-03205-6

Camino DA, Acuña L, Fernández P, Santos B. Sarcoma de Kaposi del tracto gastrointestinal. Reporte de caso. Actual Sida Infectol [Internet]. 2023 [citado 30 Ago 2026]; 31(111):49-53. DOI: https://doi.org/10.52226/revista.v31i111.128

Peprah S, Engels EA, Horner MJ, Monterosso A, Hall HI, Johnson AS, et al. Kaposi sarcoma incidence, burden, and prevalence in United States people with HIV, 2000-2015. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev [Internet]. 2021 [citado 30 Ago 2026]; 30(9):1627-1633. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-21-0008

Sun L, Zhang L, Yang K, Chen JM, Chen XM, Li M, et al. Diagnosis of Kaposi sarcoma by a modified fine needle aspiration method combing cell block in Chinese patients with human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Chin Med J (Engl) [Internet]. 2020 [citado 30 Ago 2026]; 133(23):2894-2896. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/CM9.0000000000001137

Assis YD, Melo LLP, Rezende LJS, Oliveira EFP, Campos LCO, Rocha AGS, et al. Sarcoma de Kaposi gastrointestinal primário: relato de caso. Rev Eletrônica Acervo Saúde [Internet]. 2021 [citado 30 Ago 2026]; 13(1):e5349. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25248/reas.e5349.2021

Rosado FGN, Itani DM, Coffin CM, Cates JM. Utility of immunohistochemical staining with FLI1, D2-40, CD31, and CD34 in the diagnosis of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-related and non-acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-related Kaposi sarcoma. Arch Pathol Lab Med [Internet]. 2012 [citado 30 Ago 2026]; 136(3):301-304. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5858/arpa.2011-0213-OA

Radu O, Pantanowitz L. Kaposi sarcoma. Arch Pathol Lab Med [Internet]. 2013 [citado 30 Ago 2026]; 137(2):289-294. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5858/arpa.2012-0101-RS

Shah NJ, Aloysius MM, Bhanat E, Gupta S, Savio J, Aswath G, et al. Demographic profile, management, and survival of primary gastrointestinal Kaposi sarcoma: a USA nationwide SEER-based study. Cancer Epidemiol [Internet]. 2022 [citado 30 Ago 2026]; 81:102277. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.canep.2022.102277

Maestro Prada I, Collado Pacheco D. Afectación gástrica de sarcoma de Kaposi como causa de hemorragia digestiva alta. Gastroenterol Hepatol [Internet]. 2022 [citado 30 Ago 2026]; 45(4):289-290. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gastrohep.2020.10.020

Gnanapandithan K, Hussain MT, Kashani D, Okafor PN. Kaposi sarcoma presenting as upper gastrointestinal bleeding in a patient with acquired immune deficiency syndrome. Case Rep Gastrointest Med [Internet]. 2025 [citado 30 Ago 2026]; 2025:7703200. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/crgm/7703200

Published

2026-09-11

How to Cite

1.
Fuentes Peláez A, Peraza Bordao J, Lobaina Castillo M. Gastrointestinal Kaposi sarcoma without cutaneous manifestations in a patient with AIDS: a case report. Rev Inf Cient [Internet]. 2026 Sep. 11 [cited 2026 Sep. 13];105:e5186. Available from: https://revinfcientifica.sld.cu/index.php/ric/article/view/5186

Issue

Section

CASE REPORTS