[Diagnostic pitfalls of HIV-associated Kaposi's sarcoma]

Kaposi's sarcoma was one of the very first diseases which indicated the advent of the AIDS pandemic. Despite the marked fall in its occurrence thanks to the introduction of the cART, Kaposi's sarcoma remains the most frequent tumour in HIV-positive patients and still represents a major diagnostic and therapeutic problem. Particularly in the early stages both the macroscopic and histopathological picture of Kaposi's sarcoma may be very atypical, which can cause diagnostic difficulties right at the time when an early therapy may be most successful. In order to improve both the diagnostics and therapy of Kaposi's sarcoma, close collaboration between physicians taking care of HIV-positive patients--mainly infectologists, dermatologists and pathologists, is necessary.