Absence of human herpesvirus-8 DNA in Kaposi's sarcoma following postmastectomy lymphoedema.

Only two cases of KS arising in a chronic lymphoedematous arm following radical mastectomy have been reported. We present the clinicopathological features of a third example, including an investigation into the presence of associated human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) in this situation. A 67-year-old woman without predisposing factors for KS underwent a radical mastectomy and axillary lymph node resection for infiltrating duct carcinoma of the right breast, followed by a course of local radiotherapy. She remained tumour free with moderate, persistent lymphoedema of the right arm for 16 years until she presented with a small intradermal nodule in the right elbow region. Histology revealed a spindle cell tumour consistent with nodular KS (Figure 1).