Pulmonary features of Kaposi sarcoma

Abstract

Kaposi sarcoma was initially characterized as a hemangiosarcoma of subcutaneous tissues. However, the occurrence of visceral involvement and the usual fatal outcome of the disease soon became evident. The disease is common among African blacks and individuals of Mediterranean ongin. Recently, a relation between male homosexuality and the development of Kaposi sarcoma has been documented [1 -4]. This seems to be due to acquired immunodeficiency that allows cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, Pneumocystis pneumonia, and other diseases of an opportunistic nature in previously well men. At the University of California, Los Angeles, we recently studied a homosexual man who had disseminated Kaposi sarcoma including pulmonary metastases. We present this case and review the pulmonary radiographic manifestations of Kaposi sarcoma.