Classic Kaposi’s Sarcoma: considerations from a clinical case




Gabriela Galvão-Santos, Dermatology Service, Santa Casa de Misericordia of Porto Alegre; Department of Dermatology, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre. Porto Alegre, Brasil
Iago Gonçalves-Ferreira, Dermatology Service, Santa Casa de Misericordia of Porto Alegre; Department of Dermatology, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre. Porto Alegre, Brasil
Taísa de Boni-Gauer, Dermatology Service, Santa Casa de Misericordia of Porto Alegre; Department of Dermatology, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre. Porto Alegre, Brasil
Laura Luzzatto, Dermatology Service, Santa Casa de Misericordia of Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brasil
Renan Rangel-Bonamigo, Dermatology Service, Santa Casa de Misericordia of Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brasil


Kaposi’s sarcoma is an angioproliferative neoplasm, associated with Human Herpesvirus Type 8 infection. The classic form presents an indolent evolution, with a peak in the sixth decade, affecting mainly men with chronic peripheral vasculopathy, diabetes, and/or chronic use of corticosteroids. Thus, the study aimed to present a case report and a brief review about classic Kaposi’s sarcoma. We reported a case of a 78-year-old female patient, presenting coalescent violaceous papules on the right leg, with 1 year of evolution. The clinical findings and skin biopsy histopathology evidenced features compatible with classic Kaposi’s sarcoma. Although classic Kaposi’s sarcoma has an indolent evolution, the risk of poor outcomes, progressing to deaths, and the quality-of-life impairment evidence the importance of its early diagnosis and management.



Keywords: Kaposi sarcoma. Human herpesvirus 8. Angiosarcoma. Dermatology. Neoplasms.