Genital Kaposi sarcoma in a HIV and syphilis co-infected patient: case presentation

Kaposi sarcoma, as an epidemiological factor, is associated with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and it is related to human herpes virus (HHV-8), as well as a higher prevalence in males and non-genital involvement. Vulvar localization is quite infrequent; therefore it may be considered in the differential diagnosis of genital lesions, especially in HIV patients.

We describe the atypical presentation of a female HIV patient with multiple comorbidities, with the clinical manifestation of Kaposi sarcoma (KS) in a vulvar region that was initially diagnosed as a syphilitic gumma. The patient underwent a biopsy of the lesion, and histopathology revealed a Kaposi sarcoma.

This case reinforces that the pathogenesis of Kaposi sarcoma is still unclear and that probably multiple factors, regarding both the virus and the patient characteristics may lead to carcinogenesis.

It is imperative to seek more excellent knowledge about this disease, to facilitate the diagnosis, to warrant the appropriate treatment and to improve the prognosis of the patient, especially the genital lesions.