An overview of the oral manifestations of AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-associated Kaposi's sarcoma (AIDS-KS) is the most common malignancy in human immunodeficiency virus infection and is seen most often in homosexual men. The oral cavity is frequently involved by AIDS-KS and may represent the initial site of this malignancy in up to 60% of patients. A number of treatment modalities, including systemic and localized chemotherapy and radiotherapy, are available for AIDS-KS. The initial diagnosis of AIDS-KS requires microscopic evaluation of biopsy material because this disease can mimic a number of intraoral lesions, including atrophic candidiasis, erythroplakia, pyogenic granuloma, bacillary angiomatosis, median rhomboid glossitis, hemangioma, and lymphoma. Overall, treatment of AIDS-KS does not significantly affect the prognosis or survival of AIDS patients, however, treatment can alleviate aerodigestive and/or respiratory dysfunction, allow for adequate nutritional intake, and improve the quality of life for these patients.