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Have we forgotten? Oral Manifestations of Kaposi's Sarcoma
  1. Richard Wild,
  2. Mary Colette Balmer
  1. Liverpool Dental Hospital, Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals, Liverpool, UK
  1. Correspondence to Dr R Wild, Liverpool Dental Hospital, Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals, Liverpool L3 5PS, UK; Richardlwild{at}hotmail.com

https://doi.org/10.1136/sextrans-2015-052116

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    This 49-year-old man had been under regular review by his general medical practitioner (GMP) and psychiatrist for 2 years because of depression, malaise and violent mood swings. He attended the GMP with ‘swellings that had appeared on his gums’ that were increasing in size. He was prescribed antibiotics and advised to attend a dentist, whom he saw 3 months later (figure 1).

    Figure 1
    Figure 1

    A patient photograph showing the oral manifestation of Kaposi's Sarcoma, these are normally purple in colour and become raised over time.

    These large purple lesions are the classical appearance of advanced Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) intraorally, an AIDS defining illness, caused by opportunistic HHV-8 infection in patients with HIV. We had significant concerns that this had not been recognised by the patients GMP so we discussed this with medical colleagues and were surprised that none recognised this intraoral presentation of KS. We were led to believe that GMPs are better acquainted with KS presenting on the skin, and wish to highlight this classic presentation as a reminder to non-dental colleagues.

    Footnotes

    • Contributors RW: performed initial examination and subsequent referrals. MCB: supervisor. Writing was shared equally between authors.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; internally peer reviewed.