ORAL KAPOSI SARCOMA: A CASE REPORT

Kaposi sarcoma (KS) is an uncommon angioproliferative endothelial neoplasm. The pathogenesis of KS is likely multifactorial, but the infection of the cells with the human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) and HIV infection represents a consistent etiologic factor. We report a case of KS associated with HIV infection. A 34-year-old male patient showed an asymptomatic nodular lesion on the anterior vestibular gingiva of the maxilla with purple color and slow evolution. The diagnostic hypothesis was of pyogenic granuloma. Excisional biopsy was performed, and results revealed the presence of fascicles of spindle cells and slit-like vascular spaces, which frequently contained erythrocytes. The immunohistochemical analysis showed positivity for the viral antigens of HHV-8. Thus, the histopathologic diagnosis of KS was established. After the final diagnosis, laboratory tests were performed, which revealed HIV infection. The patient died after 3 months of severe immunosuppression and pneumonia.