Pharyngeal Kaposi's sarcoma in patients with AIDS

The radiographic appearance of gastrointestinal Kaposi's sarcoma in patients with AIDS has been described previously, but little attention has been paid to pharyngeal involvement. This study compared the radiographic findings of pharyngeal Kaposi's sarcoma in eight patients with AIDS and dysphagia to those of visual inspection by laryngoscopy or bronchoscopy. Barium pharyngography (six patients) demonstrated nodular lesions without ulceration, ranging in extent from a single nodule to extensive confluent disease. CT (two patients) showed nodular or polypoid intraluminal protrusions, distortion of valleculae and pyriform sinuses, infiltration of deep-tissue planes, and adenopathy. A 4-mm nodular lesion was not seen on pharyngography. Radiographic evaluation provided supplemental information in six patients, especially regarding inferior extent of disease in four whose bulky lesions precluded adequate visual assessment. CT aided in defining deep-tissue-plane involvement and extent of nodal disease. It is concluded that barium pharyngography and CT are useful in the diagnostic evaluation of possible Kaposi's sarcoma in patients with AIDS and dysphagia.