Kaposi's sarcoma of the tracheobronchial tree. Clinical, bronchoscopic, and pathologic features

Two homosexual men with disseminated Kaposi's sarcoma presented with paroxysms of a nonproductive cough probably related to the presence of tumor in the airways. At bronchoscopy, multiple, flat, brightly red to violaceous lesions were seen throughout the tracheobronchial tree. In both patients the bronchial biopsies were nondiagnostic, and one patient had excessive bleeding after the procedure. Autopsies confirmed the presence of Kaposi's sarcoma in the trachea and bronchi. The bronchoscopic appearance of Kaposi's sarcoma of the tracheobronchial tree is characteristic, and bronchial biopsy is probably unnecessary when the diagnosis of Kaposi's sarcoma has already been made by biopsy of more accessible lesions. Furthermore, bronchial biopsy may be hazardous because of excessive bleeding.