Malabsorption as the primary manifestation of Kaposi's sarcoma (Hebrew)

Kaposi's sarcoma presenting with abdominal symptoms is rare. In the case presented, diarrhea, malabsorption and weight loss preceded the characteristic skin lesion by 8 mth. Repeated biopsies from these infiltrations did not confirm the diagnosis and radiological survey of the gastrointestinal tract and biopsies from the small bowel and rectum did not show involvement by the disease. Despite the disagreement between the clinical and histopathologic findings, combined treatment with corticosteroids, nitrogen mustard, oncovin and procarbazin was instituted. Neither this treatment, nor later use of Endoxan, altered the course of the disease. The patient, who showed signs of malabsorption, died 18 mth after onset of the disease. At postmortem examination of the whole gastrointestinal tract was heavily infiltrated by Kaposi's sarcoma.