Unanticipated diagnosis of skeletal muscle Kaposi sarcoma: a case report

Abstract

Kaposi sarcoma (KS) is a cancer, characteristically manifesting as red or purple patches of abnormal tissue growing subcutaneously around the mouth, nose, and throat. Primary musculoskeletal KS is a never reported as skeletal muscles sarcomas are first differentials. Pertaining to the musculoskeletal system complicity of KS, African and classic KS lesions are inclined to manifest lesion in the peripheral skeleton. On the other hand AIDS-related KS routinely involves the maxillofacial bones and/or axial skeleton. KS distinguishably involves the tempo-parietal bones, paranasal sinus, hands and feet and other facial bones. Asymmetric involvement of the bones by KS is the rule. Though reported, involvement of the joints in KS is unusual. Skeletal muscle involvement has only sparingly been reported in AIDS-related KS patient. A primary KS of the skeletal muscle in an otherwise normal patient with no skin manifestations has never been reported thus far. The occurrence of KS in any atypical site may pose as difficulty to diagnose it. It is important for the radiologist to acquaintance with the spectrum of imaging manifestations of KS in various affected organs. Particularly in asymptomatic patients, lesions go unrecognized on routine imaging studies (e.g. KS on plain x-ray films) and clinicians are unwary of their existence. Awareness that KS can occur in any of these unusual locations may help avoid potential misdiagnosis with serious consequences (e.g. spinal cord compression) and/or mis-management.