Kaposi’s sarcoma with the eyelid involvement (6 clinical cases)

Abstract

Kaposi's sarcoma is a multifocal tumor from vascular endothelium with a low grade of malignancy. It develops due to underlying immune deficiency and is associated with human herpesvirus 8. Kaposi's sarcoma of the eyelids is rare, and its diagnosis can be difficult both for ophthalmologists and oncodermatologists. The paper describes six clinical cases of Kaposi's sarcoma with involvement of the eyelids. Three patients had an HIV-associated type of the tumor. One patient had an immunosuppressive type of the tumor during immunosuppressive treatment after kidney transplantation. Two elderly patients had Kaposi's sarcoma of the classic type. Tumors of the eyelids developed after several years of skin involvement. All patients had advanced (nodular) stage of Kaposi's sarcoma of the eyelids, whereas the skin tumors looked as spots (maculas) or papules (macular or papular stage of the disease). The eyelid tumor presented as an extensive dark red tumor nodule distinctly separate from the adjacent tissues. In all cases, the eyelid tumor was big and hindered the sight. All the patients were treated by an oncodermatologist and/or a specialist in infectious diseases, depending on the clinical type of the disease. Kaposi's sarcoma rarely involves the eyelid skin or conjunctiva; however, in immunodeficient patients it must be included into the list for the differential diagnosis of eyelid tumors.