Widespread and Fungating Kaposi Sarcoma in an HIV Negative Patient

Kaposi sarcoma (KS) is a vascular neoplasm of the endothelial cells that commonly occurs in conditions that may lead to severe immunosuppression, e.g. HIV/AIDS, malignancies or use of immune suppressing medications. The development of KS has been linked to infection with an oncogenic virus, the Human Herpes Virus 8 (HHV-8), also known as KS-associated herpes virus (KSHV). Rarely KS also occurs in individuals with no clinical or pathological evidence of immunosuppression as described in the elderly male population of Mediterranean origin, the Ashkenazi Jews and younger population in parts of Central Africa where the oncogenic virus is endemic. Lesions in non AIDS KS are usually localized and typically involve the lower limbs. Widespread and generalized KS occur more in individuals suffering from HIV/AIDS. We describe a case of a HIV negative 51year old Nigerian male who presented with generalized cutaneous KS. Diagnosis was made by a combination of clinical description, imaging studies and histopathology. Clinical presentation of KS ranges from mild (localized cutaneous) to severe (generalized cutaneous and visceral) features. Treatment modalities are available for KS and use of any particular type of treatment depends largely on the distribution of lesions, visceral organ involvement and the presence or absence of immunosuppression. Treatment of KS, particularly cutaneous presentations does not restore the skin to its premorbid state however early diagnosis and treatment is necessary to achieve a significantly improved outcome.