Pulmonary Kaposi's sarcoma after heart transplantation: a case report.
- Resource Type
- journal article
- Authors
- Fritzsche, Florian R.; Tutic, Michaela; Opitz, Isabelle; Hunziker, Roger; Kristiansen, Glen; Montani, Matteo
- Source
- Journal of Medical Case Reports. 2010, Vol. 4 Issue 1, p1-4. 4p. 1 Color Photograph, 1 Black and White Photograph, 1 Chart.
- Subject
- *KAPOSI'S sarcoma
*IMMUNOSUPPRESSION
*HEART transplantation
*PRECANCEROUS conditions
- Language
- ISSN
- 1752-1947
Introduction: Kaposi's sarcomas have been associated with different conditions of immunosuppression and are also known to be a typical complication of solid organ transplantations.Case Presentation: We report the case of a 65-year-old Turkish man with a history of heart transplantation 10 months ago who presented for clarification of his dyspnea. The patient had a known history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and a smoking history of 40 pack years. Radiologically, three progressively growing intra-pulmonary nodules were detected. The histology was diagnostic for a Kaposi's sarcoma. Visceral and especially primary intra-pulmonary Kaposi's sarcomas are very rare and have been described to have a rather unfavorable prognosis.Conclusions: Even with a history suggestive for conventional lung cancer, Kaposi's sarcomas should be considered in patients after transplantation of solid organs. It should be noted that in a minority of cases this tumor exists in the absence of the typical cutaneous lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]