Diagnostic challenges in identifying Kaposi’s sarcoma: A case report

Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS) is a soft tissue neoplasm of vascular origin arising from cells expressing markers of endothelial smooth muscle and macrophages. Epidemiologically, KS is not considered a common tumor worldwide; however, alongside non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas, it is among the most prevalent neoplasms associated with AIDS. Presently, four clinical-epidemiological forms of the disease are recognized: classic, endemic (African), epidemic (AIDS-related), and iatrogenic (post-transplantation). Various forms of KS are characterized by distinct clinical progressions and prognoses, with significant variation in symptoms even within the HIV-infected population. This article presents the case of a young man who reported to a primary healthcare clinic with an uncharacteristic vascular skin lesion on the second toe of his right foot. The atypical clinical picture posed numerous diagnostic challenges, thereby prolonging the time to reach a definitive diagnosis of Kaposi’s sarcoma and to initiate appropriate therapeutic measures. Key words: Kaposi’s sarcoma, HIV, AIDS, Diagnosis