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Kaposi Sarcoma Presenting as Retroperitoneal Lymphadenopathy: A Case Report
Karam Elsolh1, Kevin Zbuk2, Haroon Yousuf1
1Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
Case Reports in Oncology
|July 10, 2025
Summary
This study presents an atypical Kaposi sarcoma (KS) case in an immunocompetent patient, highlighting KS's varied presentations and clinical courses. It emphasizes considering KS for visceral lymphadenopathy, even without typical risk factors.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Virology
- Pathology
Background:
- Kaposi sarcoma (KS), a human gammaherpesvirus 8-associated vascular tumor, typically affects immunocompromised individuals or elderly men of specific ethnic backgrounds.
- Classical KS presents with characteristic skin lesions, often linked to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection or other immunosuppressive states.
Observation:
- A 53-year-old immunocompetent patient without typical KS risk factors presented with isolated retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy and abdominal pain.
- Biopsy confirmed Kaposi sarcoma, despite the absence of cutaneous manifestations or known risk factors like HIV or Mediterranean ethnicity.
Findings:
- The case demonstrates an unusual presentation of Kaposi sarcoma as retroperitoneal adenopathy in an immunocompetent, non-Mediterranean individual.
- The patient experienced spontaneous regression of the lymphadenopathy without specific therapeutic intervention, indicating a variable clinical course.
Implications:
- This case underscores the importance of including Kaposi sarcoma in the differential diagnosis for visceral lymphadenopathy, particularly when conventional risk factors are absent.
- It highlights the diverse clinical spectrum of KS, ranging from aggressive growth to spontaneous resolution, necessitating tailored diagnostic and management approaches.
