Bone involvement in classic Kaposi's sarcoma.

BACKGROUND

Classic Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is a rare angioproliferative neoplasm which typically occurs on the skin of the lower limbs of immunocompetent elderly men. Bone involvement in classic KS has been exceptionally reported.

OBJECTIVES

To identify patients with classic KS who developed bone involvement based on a retrospective analysis of our departmental database.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Clinical presentation, diagnostic method, treatment, and outcome were analysed and compared with cases reported in the literature.

RESULTS

In total, we identified 1,196 patients with classic KS, three (0.25%) of whom developed bone involvement. The patients were all male and the average age at onset of bone involvement was 81.3 years. All three patients had biopsy-proven anaplastic KS affecting a bone of the lower limb. Bone radiological features were non-specific in one patient, while in all patients magnetic resonance imaging revealed osteolytic lesions and/or a solid tumour. HHV8 genotype analysis was performed in two patients, and subtypes A and C were found.

CONCLUSION

Bone involvement should be considered in patients with known KS presenting with bone pain.