To Determine the Histomorphological Variants of Kaposi's Sarcoma in HIV-infected Patients in the University of Benin Teaching Hospital.

Abstract

Introduction: There are different histopathological variants of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) aside the typical patch, plaque, and nodular variants. The baseline data of the unfamiliar variants of this lesion have not been determined in our environment. Their determination will bring to the foreclose differential diagnoses that may lead to diagnostic pitfalls.

Aim and objectives: To determine the histomorphological variants of KS in the University of Benin Teaching Hospital over a 3-year 2-month period from May 1, 2014, to July 31, 2017.

Materials and methods: This was a prospective study. The patients were all adult human immunodeficiency virus-positive highly active antiretroviral therapy users who had symptomatic cutaneous lesions that were histopathologically identified as KS. The histopathological variants of KS were noted. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences, version 16, was used to analyse the data.

Results: Fifty patients had KS. The histomorphological variants (stages) of KS, as seen in this study, ranged from the typical progressive lesions of patch (13.2%), plaque (43.4%), and nodules (18.4%) to rarely diagnosed variants that are lymphangioma-like KS (6.6%), lymphangiectatic KS (5.2%), hyperkeratotic KS (1.3%), keloidal KS (9.2%), ecchymotic KS (1.3%), and pyogenic granuloma-like KS (1.3%). The mixed pattern (spindle cells and vascular channels) was the predominant (63%) histologic cellular group in this study.

Conclusion: In addition to the common histopathological subtypes of KS, this study also found less common histopathological variants.