Diagnostic and therapeutic approach to HIV-Kaposi's sarcoma patients: Case report

Background/Aim: The Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is an immunologic entity, which is due to an RNA virus. AIDS is relatively easy transmitted and has a poor prognosis. The main mechanism of this Syndrome is characterized by the destruction and diminishing of T4 lymphocytes or helper/suppressor T-cells. Kaposi's sarcoma is a neoplasm due to human herpes HHV-8. Kaposi's sarcoma is one of the entities that determines the disease of AIDS. Kaposi's sarcoma appears as skin lesions and attacks the oral cavity and lymph nodes. Case report: A male patient, with HIV-syndrome, was referred to the Special Infection Clinic of the University Hospital with a chief complaint of having two lesions, in the oral cavity and in the right ear. The histological report revealed the diagnosis of vascular tumor having morphological and immuno-histochemical characteristics compatible with Kaposi's sarcoma. Conclusions: The doctor must be suspicious when lesions are observed, particularly in the oral cavity. A biopsy must be taken in order to obtain the correct diagnosis and examine the possibility of the presence of Kaposi's sarcoma or AIDS.