INTESTINAL INVOLVEMENT BY KAPOSI'S SARCOMA IN A NON-IMMUNOSUPPRESSED PATIENT

Case Presentation A 77-year-old male patient with a history of lower gastrointestinal bleeding (enterorrhagia) underwent a colonoscopy that revealed a bleeding lesion in the sigmoid colon, which was treated with a hemostatic clip. The bleeding recurred, and two additional procedures were performed without resolving the issue. Definitive surgical treatment with rectosigmoidectomy was then chosen.

Histopathological findings: Vascular lesion with features consistent with Kaposi's sarcoma.

Discussion Kaposi's Sarcoma (KS) is a type of cancer originating in the blood and lymphatic vessel cells, associated with human herpesvirus type 8 (HHV-8). The epidemiology of KS varies significantly worldwide, with notably high prevalence in Sub-Saharan Africa, where it is often related to AIDS and found endemically in children and the elderly, with a higher prevalence in men. Clinically, it presents as pink-purple patches on the skin and can also affect mucous membranes and internal organs, often causing significant bleeding. Diagnosis is confirmed via histopathology, identifying spindle cells, HHV-8 LANA antigen, abnormal blood vessel proliferation with leakage, extravasated red blood cells, and inflammatory infiltrates.

Conclusion In conclusion, though rare, Kaposi's Sarcoma is a multifocal vascular neoplasm with significant prevalence among immunocompromised individuals, particularly those with HIV. However, in non-immunosuppressed patients, it should be considered as a differential diagnosis in cases of recurrent lower gastrointestinal bleeding.

 

MissingLinkText

No conflict of interest has been declared by the author(s).

Publication History

Article published online:
25 April 2025