Chest Radiographic Patterns in HIV Associated Kaposi's Sarcoma in Benin City, Nigeria

Background: Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is the most common tumour among patients with HIV infection. Pulmonary involvement occurs commonly in critically immunosupressed patients, especially with muco-cutaneous involvement. Diagnosis of pulmonary involvement can be made by a combination of clinical, radiographic and laboratory findings. There is paucity of data on the imaging appearances of this condition in the Nigerian populace. Patients and Methods: This was a retrospective study. Thirty-three patients who attended the HIV/AIDS clinic or were admitted into the medical wards, with KS were included in the study. Clinical data (from case records) and radiographic images were accessed. There were 18 males (54.5%) and 15 females (45.5%); M: F; 121. Among other laboratory tests, the CD, cell count was for each patient was recorded. Each subject's posteroanterior chest radiograph taken in full inspiration was retrieved. The retrieved radiographs were reviewed and classified as normal or abnormal. Abnormal findings were further classified into pulmonary or cardiac lesions. Correlation of radiographic findings with the CD, cell count was done Results: Mean age of subjects was 37.53+9.86years. The mean CD, cell count was 165.97±100.49 cells/cu mm. Thirty-three patients had cutaneous lesions, while 7 patients and 3 patients had oral and ocular lesions respectively. Three patients had lymphoedema. Eighteen patients (54.5%) had normal chest radiographs, while 15(45.5%) had abnormal findings. Abnormal findings were lobar consolidation; 6 patients (40%). symmetrical alveolar densities, with adenopathy (pneumocystis carinii patterns"); 6 patients (40%), cardiomegaly with alveolar infiltrates; 3 patients (14%). When all the subjects were considered, the CD,, cell count did not correlate significantly with chest radiographic abnormality. Conclusion: This study found a high level of chest involvement in Kaposi's sarcoma, thus confirming previous reports on the subject. The CD counts were lower in those with abnormal chest radiographic findings, suggesting more immunodeficiency. The difference was, however, not statistically significant.