Classic and immunodeficiency-associated Kaposi's sarcoma. Clinical, histologic, and immunologic correlations
Santucci, M.; Pimpinelli, N.; Moretti, S.; Giannotti, B.
Archives of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine 112(12): 1214-1220
1988
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-9985 PMID: 3056319 Document Number: 311716
The evolutionary modifications of the clinical, histomorphologic, and immunopathologic features of both classic and immunodeficiency (ID)-associated Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) were investigated in relation to the immune status of the patients. The histologic picture was similar in the classic and ID-associated forms of the tumor. In classic KS, a variably dense reactive infiltrate was present, and its amount was inversely related to the age of the lesions; conversely, a scarce reactive infiltrate, with the absence of CD4+ cells, was always evidenced in ID-associated KS lesions, even when the immune status of the patient showed no abnormalities. This evidence supports the hypothesis that a specific impairment of skin-associated lymphoid tissue may be crucial to the development of ID-associated KS.