Massive vulval Kaposi's sarcoma in pregnancy: case report

Int Med Case Rep J. 2016 Jul 29:9:227-9. doi: 10.2147/IMCRJ.S111171. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

Introduction: The complications of HIV/AIDS can produce grossly abnormal pathology. In low-resourced settings, women can present late with huge lesions. Massive vulval pathology copresenting in pregnancy produces difficulties in managing the patients and may lead to poor maternal or fetal outcomes.

Case report: A 27-year-old P1 G2 (second pregnancy one live birth) patient presented at 30 weeks gestation with a massive vulval lesion. She was HIV seropositive and taking anti-retroviral therapy. She was anemic with a hemoglobin level of 5.9 and was transfused 4.0 of packed cells. She underwent examination under anesthesia and vulval biopsy. She went into preterm labor and was delivered by cesarean section. Unfortunately, the baby had died while receiving corticosteroid therapy. The histopathological report confirmed a Kaposi's sarcoma, and she was referred to oncologists for chemotherapy.

Conclusion: Kaposi's sarcoma can occur in pregnancy in both seropositive and seronegative patients. Kaposi's sarcoma causes significant fetal and maternal health complications.

Keywords: AIDS; HIV; Kaposi’s sarcoma; Vulval mass; anemia; pregnancy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports