Journal of the Formosan Medical Association
Volume 105, Issue 2 , Pages 155-159, 2006

Evolution of Human Herpesvirus Type 8-associated Gastric Kaposi's Sarcoma Following Corticosteroid Treatment for Asthma

  • Cheng-Chuan Su

      Affiliations

    • Corresponding Author InformationCorrespondence to: Dr. Cheng-Chuan Su, Department of Clinical Pathology, Buddhist Dalin Tzu Chi General Hospital, 2, Minsheng Road, Dalin Town, Chiayi 622, Taiwan, R.O.C.
  • Jang-Jih Lu

      Affiliations

    • Department of Division of Clinical Pathology, Department of Pathology, Tri-Service General Hospital and National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.
    • ,
  • Cherng-Lih Perng

      Affiliations

    • Department of Division of Clinical Pathology, Department of Pathology, Tri-Service General Hospital and National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.
    • ,
  • Fu-Tien Yu

      Affiliations

    • Department of Surgery, Taipei Municipal Chung-Hsiao Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.
    • ,
  • Chan-Hsien Chiu

      Affiliations

    • Department of Internal Medicine, Taipei Municipal Chung-Hsiao Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.

Department of Anatomic and Clinical Pathologies, Buddhist Dalin Tzu Chi General Hospital, Chiayi, and Department of Pathology, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taipei

Received 20 January 2005; received in revised form 24 February 2005; accepted 12 April 2005.

Article Outline

The association of gastric Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) with human herpesvirus type 8 (HHV-8) may be found in immunosuppressed patients such as those with AIDS or transplant recipients. A 64-year-old man with a 2-year history of corticosteroid treatment was admitted due to the impression of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with secondary infection. Abdominal fullness and tarry stool led to the performance of panendoscopy, which revealed two hypertrophic gastric mucosal lesions. These lesions had transformed into a large polyp 2 months later. KS was not diagnosed until a third endoscopic biopsy was performed. The polyp further transformed into a flattened, elongated tumor within a month. The patient died from acute cardiopulmonary insufficiency 4 days after radical gastrectomy. Polymerase chain reaction study identified HHV-8 in all biopsied specimens and resected tumor lesions. Immunostaining further demonstrated the virus in the tumor cells. Both of these methods seemed more sensitive in diagnosing KS than histologic examination of small biopsied specimens. This case suggests the existence of a relationship between gastric KS and HHV-8 infection.

Key Words:  asthma , corticosteroid , HHV-8 , Kaposi's sarcoma , stomach

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PII: S0929-6646(09)60337-5

doi:10.1016/S0929-6646(09)60337-5

Journal of the Formosan Medical Association
Volume 105, Issue 2 , Pages 155-159, 2006

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