Diagnóstico de sarcoma de Kaposi en el tubo digestivo: Estudio retrospectivo

Since 1981, when AIDS was first described, over five million people world-wide have been diagnosed with this disease with a mortality rate of over 50% . The predominance in male homosexual or bisexual adults, as well as its frequently related complications, are well known. Among the neoplasic complications of the AIDS epidemic, Kaposi’s sarcoma is one of the most important, especially in skin and chest areas. Kaposi’s sarcoma also involves the GI tract. A retrospective study was conducted al the Radiology and Endoscopy Departments of our institution for a 10 year period, from January 1986 to December 1995. The results of 26,000 X-rays of the upper GI tract and 16,216 endoscopy results were reviewed. Five cases of Kaposi’s sarcoma in GI tract were found, one of them esophageal and four gastric sarcomas. We recommend that all HIV positive patients with gastrointestinal syntomatology be studied in search of this possible complication.