Kaposi sarcoma is an unusual tumor associated to a human herpes virus-8 infection involving the skin or internal organs. Iatrogenic Kaposi's sarcoma often occurs in patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy. So far, a few Kaposi's sarcoma cases have been reported in the literature associated with inflammatory bowel diseases. We report a 53-year-old male diagnosed with a severe refractory ulcerative colitis who was treated with corticosteroids and azathioprine. The patient underwent a colectomy after the failure of medical treatment. Histological examination of the colon showed findings suggestive of Kaposi's sarcoma. Immunohistochemistry for human herpes virus-8 was positive in the colonic lesions. Correspondence.
Keywords: Corticosteroids; Human Herpes Virus-8; Iatrogenic; Immunosuppression; Kaposi’s Sarcoma; Ulcerative colitis.
© Copyright Società Italiana di Anatomia Patologica e Citopatologia Diagnostica, Divisione Italiana della International Academy of Pathology.