Kaposi's sarcoma with atypical gastrointestinal involvement

Abstract

A 31-year-old human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive male presented with weight loss, asthenia and anorexia of three weeks evolution. On physical exam, the patient had painless purple-colored papules on the trunk and upper limbs. Laboratory studies showed severe immunosuppression, with an absolute CD4 cell count of 114 cell/ul and HIV1-RNA level of 180,000 copies/ml. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy showed an exophytic lesion in the distal esophagus composed of three polyps and multiple flat and nodular maculopapular erythematous lesions in the gastric body, antrum and duodenum. Colonoscopy was also performed and identified several flat erythematous lesions in the colorectal mucosa. A neoplasm composed of small irregular vascular channel proliferation and spindled endothelial cells with minimal atypia was observed in all the esophageal, gastric, duodenal, colic and skin biopsies.