KAPOSI-SARCOMA PRESENTING AS A VULVAR MASS

Background: Kaposi sarcoma has become a common manifestation in people with AIDS, especially men. A few reports of Kaposi sarcoma in women w ith AIDS have involved nongenital areas. However, of the few patients with genital Kaposi sarcoma reported in the United States, none was be lieved to be human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive. Genital Kapo si sarcoma associated with HIV has been reported in other parts of the world. Case: A 29-year-old black woman presented with severe vulvar p ain, vaginal discharge, and a vulvar mass. She had been diagnosed with AIDS 25 months earlier. Biopsy of the vulvar mass revealed Kaposi sar coma; viral analysis of the tumor was positive for herpes simplex viru s type 2. Sequencing of polymerase chain reaction product verified the presence of human papillomavirus 26. Conclusion: We report an HIV-ass ociated Kaposi sarcoma presenting as a vulvar mass. This report should alert health care providers to include Kaposi sarcoma in the differen tial diagnosis of Vulvar lesions.