Nodal and cutaneous Kaposi's sarcoma

We report a case of Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS) of the lymph node and of the skin, negative for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Human Herpes Virus 8 (HHV-8) and Hepatite B Virus (HBV), successfully treated with low dose interferon alpha (IFN). KS is a systemic disease, which causes cutaneous lesions with or without internal involvement; it usually develops in patients with weakened immune system. HHV-8 is strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of KS, which is a multistep process including genetic and angiogenesis factor involvement, as well as the production of several inflammatory cytokines, and sometimes HIV infection. KS diagnosis can be made with tissue biopsy and endoscopy, if clinically indicated. The current therapy of cutaneous KS includes systemic and localized treatments.