Effect of compression therapy on a pseudo-Kaposi sarcoma.

A 52-year-old hairdresser developed, 2 years after a deep and superficial venous thrombosis of the left lower limb, a purple soft lesion topped with an ulcer in the internal malleolar area of the same leg. Venous duplex examination showed a deep and superficial venous insufficiency with partial occlusion of the femoral veins. Histopathological examination disclosed a proliferation of capillaries and fibroblasts, extravasation of erythrocytes and deposits of hemosiderin in the superficial dermis; there were neither nuclear atypies of the endothelial cells nor spindle cell formation, i.e. compatible with a pseudo-Kaposi sarcoma. An arteriovenous fistula was not found. With the introduction of a treatment by selective compression (rubber patch) on the left internal malleolus and class III compressing stockings the ulcer healed in 2 months and the lesion showed a nearly complete regression in 5 months.