Kaposi's sarcoma in three HIV-negative, non-immunosuppressed patients

WYM Tang, WY Lam, LY Ho, KK Lo, HL Wong
Social Hygiene Service, Department of Health, Hong Kong Government, Hong Kong

Over the past two years, three Hong Kong Chinese individuals have presented to the Social Hygiene Service (Department of Health, Hong Kong) with granuloma-like nodules on their lower extremities. Histopathological examination of the lesions revealed that they were Kaposi�s sarcoma, two of which were initially misdiagnosed as pyogenic granuloma. All three patients originated from southern China and had previously been in good health, with no evidence of immunosuppression. All ELISA tests for human immunodeficiency virus antibodies were negative. The course of the disease has been favourable. The lesions in the first patient regressed with radiotherapy. Complete surgical excision of the lesion in the second patient was not followed by recurrence. In the third patient, the lesions were static and did not require active intervention. Awareness of the existence of Kaposi�s sarcoma among non-risk groups allows for their prompt recognition.

Hong Kong Med J 1996;2:331-7

Key words: Kaposi's sarcoma; HIV-negative, non-immunosuppressed, Hong Kong Chinese