Hepatic Involvement in Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome-Associated Kaposi's Sarcoma: A Descriptive Analysis on CT, MRI, and Ultrasound

Infect Drug Resist. 2024 Mar 18:17:1073-1084. doi: 10.2147/IDR.S440305. eCollection 2024.

Abstract

Purpose: To retrospectively analyse the different imaging manifestations of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-associated hepatic Kaposi's sarcoma (AIDS-HKS) on CT, MRI, and Ultrasound.

Patients and methods: Eight patients were enrolled in the study. Laboratory tests of liver function were performed. The CT, MRI, and Ultrasound manifestations were reviewed by two radiologists and two sonographers, respectively. The distribution and imaging signs of AIDS-HKS were evaluated.

Results: AIDS-HKS patients commonly presented multiple lesions, mainly distributed around the portal vein on CT, MRI, and Ultrasound. AIDS-HKS presented as ring enhancement in the arterial phase on contrast-enhanced CT and MRI scanning, and nodules gradually strengthen in the portal venous phase and the delayed phase. AIDS-HKS presented as intrahepatic bile duct dilatation and bile duct wall thickening around the lesion. Five patients (62.5%, 5/8) were followed up. After chemotherapy, the lesions were completely relieved (60.0%), or decreased (40.0%).

Conclusion: AIDS-HKS presented as multiple nodular lesions with different imaging features. The combination of different imaging methods was helpful for the imaging diagnosis of AIDS-HKS.

Keywords: Kaposi’s sarcoma; diagnostic imaging; liver; magnetic resonance imaging; spiral computed; tomography; ultrasonography.