Clinical presentation of non-HIV Kaposi sarcoma

ABSTRACT

Kaposi Sarcoma [KS] is a rare entity. In the north west of Pakistan and Aghanistan, we mostly come across non-HIV related Kaposi sarcoma as Human Immunedeficiency Virus [HIV]. Infections are rare in this part of the world. Here, we present a case of a non-auto Immunedeficiency Disease [AIDS] related KS. A 45-year-old male, Afghan patient presented to our oncology outpatient's unit with multiple subcutaneous nodules. The sites of involvement were the periorbital region, retro-auricular region, forearms, legs, chest and back. Oral mucosa was spared at the nodules. The patient had no visceromegaly at the time of presentation. A biopsy specimen from the retro-auricular region revealed a KS with dermal lymphatic involvement. His serum was negative for the common types of viral infections including Human Immunodeficiency Virus [HIV] on routine serology. His total B-lymphocytes [CD 19+], total T-lymphocyte [CD3+], total CD4+ lymphocyte [CD3+, CD4+] and total CD8+ [CD3+, CD8+] counts were all normal or borderline high. The patient was under treatment with 3 weekly chemotherapeutic regimens of Adriamycin, Bleomycin, Vincristine [ABV] keeping in view socioeconomical constrains, logistical difficulties in getting proper medical care and side effects of other options like radiotherapy for extended surface areas