Oral presentation of Kaposi's sarcoma in a patient without severe immunodeficiency

Primary oral Kaposi's sarcoma of the "traditional type" (non-African, non-acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, nonimmunosuppressed) is a rare disorder. Presentation of this disorder at this site has not been well documented in the surgical pathology literature. This report describes a primary oral Kaposi's sarcoma in an older man without evidence of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or overt immunosuppression; this sarcoma recurred three times before a correct diagnosis was made. The case illustrates the importance of including Kaposi's sarcoma in the differential diagnosis. The lesions can easily be confused with pyogenic granuloma if the physician is unaware that primary Kaposi's sarcoma can occur at this site.