Primary Kaposi’s sarcoma of the nasal cavity: a case report and review of the literature

Abstract

BackgroundKaposi sarcoma is a neoplastic vascular disorder. It usually present on the skin of the upper and lower extremities, rarely in the mucosa of the head and neck. The most common sites reported are within the oral cavity, particularly on the palate. Other mucosal sites are rare. We present an unusual case where the primary manifestation of the Kaposi’s sarcoma was in the nasal mucosa.Case presentationA 56-year-old female of Mediterranean descent presented with a 1 year history of swelling on the left side of her nose, nasal obstruction and occasional minor epistaxes. Physical examination showed a firm and bulging polypoid mass which filled the left nasal cavity without cutaneous lesions.Computed tomography (CT) demonstrated a tumor, measuring 77 mm in diameter, occupying the left nasal cavity causing erosion of nasal septum and extending posteriorly to the left choana and nasopharynx. There was bilateral cervical lymphadenopathy. Patient treated with chemotherapy alone. She was in a complete response after the first cycle. The patient received no further treatment. She needs a regular medical checkups that include a review of a patient’s medical history and a complete physical exam. She is in excellent local control over 12 months.ConclusionsA review of the literature revealed that only seven cases of primary Kaposi sarcoma of the nasal cavity have previously been published and only two of them presented in a patient not associated with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Here, we report the third case where the primary manifestation of the Kaposi sarcoma was in the nasal cavity in a patient with an adequate immune system.

Head and Neck Kaposi Sarcoma: Clinicopathological Analysis of 11 Cases

“…A literature search disclosed an additional 8 cases, highlighting the rarity and distinctiveness of this presentation [12][13][14][15]. Other rarely reported, but in our series not represented head and neck sites, include the sinonasal mucosa [16,17]. The salivary glands represent another rarely reported head and neck site [18], represented in our current study by a single case with involvement of intra-parotid lymph nodes.…”

Primary Nasopharyngeal Kaposi Sarcoma as Index Diagnosis of AIDS in a Previously Healthy Man

“…Involvement of the head and neck region is more prevalent in the AIDS-related form, with the oral cavity being the most commonly affected mucosal site [4,5]. Primary involvement of the nasal cavity, particularly the nasopharynx, is distinctively rarer with only few reports in the literature [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14]. The clinical characteristics of these patients are summarized in Table 1.…”

A rare case of odynophagia

“…Pathologists may often utilise immunohistochemical studies to assist in excluding many differentials. 10 The TIS (Tumour, Immune System and Systemic illness) classification for prognosis is still widely utilised, where groups of patients are categorised into 'good' and 'poor' prognosis. Applying the staging to our case would place her in the 'poor' risk category.…”