title: An overview of the oral manifestations of AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma.
abstract: Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-associated Kaposi's sarcoma (AIDS-KS) is the most common malignancy in human immunodeficiency virus infection and is seen most often in homosexual men. The oral cavity is frequently involved by AIDS-KS and may represent the initial site of this malignancy in up to 60% of patients. A number of treatment modalities, including systemic and localized chemotherapy and radiotherapy, are available for AIDS-KS. The initial diagnosis of AIDS-KS requires microscopic evaluation of biopsy material because this disease can mimic a number of intraoral lesions, including atrophic candidiasis, erythroplakia, pyogenic granuloma, bacillary angiomatosis, median rhomboid glossitis, hemangioma, and lymphoma. Overall, treatment of AIDS-KS does not significantly affect the prognosis or survival of AIDS patients, however, treatment can alleviate aerodigestive and/or respiratory dysfunction, allow for adequate nutritional intake, and improve the quality of life for these patients.
authors.affiliation: Division of Oral Pathology, University of Texas Health Science Center, Dental Branch, Houston, USA.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Flaitz
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Nichols
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hicks
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D011379:Prognosis; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy