Kaposi sarcoma in HIV Patients: Case study and literature review

Kanta Ka 1, *, Edimo Lionel Eric Francis 1, 2, Mame Daro Faye 3, Mahomed Ilyas Yessoufou 4, Maison Mayeh Anne Marthe 2, Essomba Biwole Martin 2, El Hadj Amadou Sall 5 and Abdoul Aziz Kasse 5

1 Radiotherapy Department, DALAL JAMM Hospital, Dakar, Senegal.
2 Radiotherapy Department, General Hospital, Douala, Cameroon.
3 Division of Radiation Oncology, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada.
4 Radiotherapy Department, Nganda Hospital, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
5 Dakar International Cancer Center, Senegal.
 
Case Study
World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 2024, 22(02), 326–331
Article DOI: 10.30574/wjarr.2024.22.2.1142
 
Publication history: 
Received on 04 March 2024; revised on 24 April 2024; accepted on 26 April 2024
 
Abstract: 
Introduction: Kaposi sarcoma (KS), a malignancy originating from endothelial cells and linked to human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8), disproportionately affects individuals with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Despite decreased incidence in high-income countries due to antiretroviral therapy, KS remains a significant concern in sub-Saharan Africa. This article presents a case study of an HIV-positive patient treated exclusively with radiation therapy and provides a comprehensive literature review on KS management.
Case Presentation: A 46-year-old HIV-positive patient, under well-controlled infection, exhibited nodular skin lesions, hyperpigmentation, and lymphedema primarily on the lower left limb. Histological analysis confirmed the diagnosis of KS. The patient underwent radiation therapy (36 Gy in 12 sessions) with subsequent topical imiquimod. Nine months post-treatment, no nodular lesions were observed, indicating a positive response.
Conclusion: In the antiretroviral era, radiation therapy emerges as a crucial loco-regional treatment in the multimodal management of epidemic KS. With a focus on controlling disease within irradiated areas, excellent response rates and acceptable toxicity levels highlight the efficacy of this approach.
 
Keywords: 
Kaposi Sarcoma; Human Herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8); HIV; Radiation Therapy; Antiretroviral Therapy
 
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Copyright information: 
Copyright © 2024 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0

 

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