Pulmonary Kaposi Sarcoma without Respiratory Symptoms and Skin Lesions in an HIV-Naïve Patient: A Case Report and Literature Review

Abstract

Kaposi sarcoma (KS) is a multifocal lympho-angioproliferative, mesenchymal low-grade tumor associated with a γ2-herpesvirus, named Kaposi sarcoma-associated virus or human herpesvirus (KSHV/HHV8). The lung is considered a usual anatomical location of KS, despite being infrequent, often in association with extensive mucocutaneous lesions and very uncommonly as an isolated event. We report a case of a pulmonary KS (pKS) in a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) naïve patient, which was atypical due to a lack of cutaneous involvement and an absence of respiratory symptoms. The pKS was initially identified as a tumoral suspected nodular lesion and only after immunohistochemical analysis was it characterized as KS. Furthermore, the diagnosis of pKS led to the discovery of the HIV-seropositive status of the patient, previously unknown. Our report underlines the importance of considering pKS even without skin lesions and as a first manifestation of HIV infection. We also reviewed literature on the current knowledge about pKS in people living with HIV (PLWH) to underline how one of the most common HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) associated tumors can have a challenging localization and be difficult to recognize.

Mucorales/Fusarium Mixed Infection in Hematologic Patient with COVID-19 Complications: An Unfortunate Combination

“…Imitating Fusarium , Mucorales is ubiquitous in the environment and its spores could be recovered in compost piles, soil, fruits, and decaying vegetation. Hematological conditions along with immunosuppressive diseases represent key risk factors for the development of mucormycosis [ 12 , 13 ].…”

Epstein–Barr Virus-Positive Cutaneous and Systemic Plasmacytosis with TAFRO Syndrome-like Symptoms Successfully Treated with Rituximab

“…HUS was also ruled out because of the absence of hemolytic anemia and gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea or bloody stools. KICS is a recently proposed disease entity that occurs in patients simultaneously infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) [ 17 , 18 ]. KICS is clinically indistinguishable from iMCD-TAFRO due to the presence of varying degrees of lymph node swelling, pancytopenia, and systemic inflammatory syndromes.…”

Thyroid Diseases and Thyroid Asymptomatic Dysfunction in People Living With HIV

“…IRIS is a condition characterized by a rapid recovery of CD4 following the initial depletion phase, after the beginning of ART. It is well described in the setting of opportunistic infections and tumors in PLWH, such as tuberculosis and Kaposi sarcoma [ 62 , 63 ]. However, an IRIS can occur due to an immune response against self-antigens, leading to autoimmune diseases such as rheumatic diseases, multiple sclerosis and GD.…”