Kaposi sarcoma in calabar, southern Nigeria.
OBJECTIVE
There has been an increase in the prevalence of Kaposi sarcoma (KS) with the emergence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).


METHODS
Patients with histologic diagnosis of KS seen in the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar between January 2007 and December 2008 were studied. Diagnosis of HIV was based on enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).


RESULTS
In total, 15 patients (10 males, 5 females, M: F=2:1) presented with KS and accounted for 33.0% of total skin malignancy and ranked second after squamous cell carcinoma, 42.0%. Their ages ranged from 5 and 60 years (mean 37.5 years). Twelve patients (M=8, F=4), 80%, were HIV seropositive, while 3 (M=2, F=1) were HIV seronegative. The lower limb was the commonest affected site, 57.9%.


CONCLUSIONS
The most common clinical type was HIV related KS. Ignorance, sociocultural beliefs, poverty, late presentation were underlying issues.
Maurice
M
Asuquo
Aniefon
A
Umana
Otei
O
Otei
Imabasi
I
Bassey
Godwin
G
Ebughe