AIDS-related Intrapulmonary Kaposi's Sarcoma Presenting as Endobronchial Lesions: A Rare Presentation in Taiwan-A Case Report and Literature Review

Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is a complication suffered by patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). KS forms most frequently in the mucocutaneous zone, but can also be found in other parts of the body. Intrapulmonary KS may lead to respiratory symptoms, such as coughing, hemoptysis, and exertional dyspnea. Pneumocystic jeroveci pneumonia, cytomegalovirus pneumonia, and pulmonary tuberculosis may be caused by diseases or factors other than intrapulmonary complications of HIV, so the differential diagnosis of intrapulmonary KS could potentially be overlooked. We reported the case of a patient with HIV who was brought to the hospital due to respiratory symptoms. Pulmonary tuberculosis medications were given initially, but the symptoms worsened, and the chest x-ray showed progression of the condition. As a result of computed tomography (CT) and bronchoscopy findings, we further suspected the possibility of intrapulmonary KS. Pathological diagnosis confirmed our impression. With the use of anti-viral medications and chemotherapy, the patient showed improvement in clinical symptoms and chest x-ray findings. We completed an extensive literature review, and believe this experience will help doctors in Taiwan identify KS more quickly when encountering patients with respiratory complications possibly related to HIV.