Pulmonary Kaposi's sarcoma revealed by a solitary nodule in a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

Abstract

Kaposi's sarcoma is very common in patients with AIDS. Usually, skin lesions are associated with various visceral involvements. A homosexual patient with AIDS presented with cough and dyspnea, which were followed months later by hemoptysis. He had no skin lesions or endobronchial Kaposi's sarcoma at any time. His chest radiograph showed only an irregular solitary nodule. It exhibited very slow development over time. Surgery was performed, and this solitary nodule proved to be pulmonary Kaposi's sarcoma. Pulmonary Kaposi was the sole manifestation of this associated AIDS sarcoma. This very unusual case report of pulmonary Kaposi sarcoma indicates that this diagnosis should be considered in patients with AIDS presenting with a solitary pulmonary nodule.