Maladie de kaposi classique à localisation palpébrale

Classic Kaposi’s disease is a multifocal and proliferative disease with a double vascular and cellular fibroblastic component and with a cutaneous and visceral expression. We report the case of a 70-year old woman having erythematous lesions on both upper eyelids impairing visual acuity since 6 months. Clinical examination showed 2 purplish erythematous nodules on the free edge of both upper eyelids and some purplish erythematous papules and plaques on the upper and lower extremities. Histologic examination of eyelid nodule obtained by biopsy objectified: vascular endothelial and spindle-cell proliferation suggestive of Kaposi’s disease. HIV serology was negative The patient underwent surgical resection of eyelid lesions with 1 year follow up. Classic Kaposi’s disease affects the population of the Mediterranean basin and Eastern Europe, especially men over 50 years. Ocular localizations involve the eyelids, the conjunctiva, the lacrimal sac and rarely the orbit. They occur in people who already suffer from Kaposi’s sarcoma or, more rarely, represent the first sign of the condition. Their frequency, rare before the advent of AIDS. Eyelid locations affect the upper and lower eyelids in 15% of cases. The differential diagnosis of these eyelid affections should be performed with basal cell carcinomas, blepharitis and styes. Complications of eyelid involvement are: entropion, ectropion, trichiasis, eye irritations, corneal ulcers and abscesses or conjunctival haemorrhages. Their management is surgical because eyelid lesions are always functionally troublesome conditions.