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. 2021 Dec;21(4):1733-1738.
doi: 10.4314/ahs.v21i4.29.

Histopathological patterns and topographical distribution of Kaposi Sarcoma at Muhimbili National Hospital, Tanzania

Reginald Gervas  1 , Edward Mgaya  1
Affiliations

Histopathological patterns and topographical distribution of Kaposi Sarcoma at Muhimbili National Hospital, Tanzania

Reginald Gervas et al. Afr Health Sci. 2021 Dec.

Abstract

Background: Kaposi sarcoma (KS) is derived from endothelial cell lineage; it is caused by Human Herpes Virus-8 (HHV-8) facilitated by immune suppression. KS remains one of the commonest sarcoma seen in Tanzania. The paucity of recent data makes monitoring the disease a challenge. This study describes the Histopathological Patterns and Topographical distribution of Kaposi Sarcoma at Muhimbili National Hospital, a tertiary care hospital in Tanzania.

Methods: A hospital-based retrospective cross-sectional study was done to review biopsies sent to the Central Pathology Laboratory (CPL), Muhimbili National Hospital from 2010 to 2014.

Results: A total of 818 cases representing 1.8 % of all malignancies during the study period were enrolled in the study. The age of patients at diagnosis ranged from 6 months to 94 years old, with the median age being 37 years. Male to female ratio was 1.4:1.0. Females were younger than males (p < 0.001). The majority of the lesions were in the lower limbs, 352 (64.1 %). Nodular KS accounted for 74.5% of all cases.

Conclusion: Kaposi's sarcoma remains a common malignancy. The patients present late at diagnosis. Early diagnosis and improved treatment protocols remain to be key steps towards reducing the burden of KS.

Keywords: Histopathological Patterns; Kaposi's Sarcoma; Topographical distribution.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Patch stage Kaposi sarcoma showing newly formed vessels protruding into a larger vascular space characteristic of the promontory sign (H&E, 200X).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Plaque stage Kaposi sarcoma. numbers of intracellular and extracellular eosinophilic hyaline globules are visible in this field (H&E, 400X)
Figure 3
Figure 3
Nodular Kaposi sarcoma. The dermis is expanded by a solid tumour nodule (H&E, 20X).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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