Pulmonary Kaposi Sarcoma without Respiratory Symptoms and Skin Lesions in an HIV-Naïve Patient: A Case Report and Literature Review

• Main Authors: Cristina Micali (Author), Ylenia Russotto (Author), Alessio Facciolà (Author), Andrea Marino (Author), Benedetto Maurizio Celesia (Author), Eugenia Pistarà (Author), Grazia Caci (Author), Giuseppe Nunnari (Author), Giovanni Francesco Pellicanò (Author), Emmanuele Venanzi Rullo (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: MDPI AG, 2022-03-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.

Summary

Kaposi sarcoma (KS) is a multifocal lympho-angioproliferative, mesenchymal low-grade tumor associated with a γ2-herpesvirus, named Kaposi sarcoma-associated virus or human herpesvirus (KSHV/HHV8). The lung is considered a usual anatomical location of KS, despite being infrequent, often in association with extensive mucocutaneous lesions and very uncommonly as an isolated event. We report a case of a pulmonary KS (pKS) in a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) naïve patient, which was atypical due to a lack of cutaneous involvement and an absence of respiratory symptoms. The pKS was initially identified as a tumoral suspected nodular lesion and only after immunohistochemical analysis was it characterized as KS. Furthermore, the diagnosis of pKS led to the discovery of the HIV-seropositive status of the patient, previously unknown. Our report underlines the importance of considering pKS even without skin lesions and as a first manifestation of HIV infection. We also reviewed literature on the current knowledge about pKS in people living with HIV (PLWH) to underline how one of the most common HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) associated tumors can have a challenging localization and be difficult to recognize.

Item Description

10.3390/idr14020028
2036-7449