Endoscopy 2007; 39: E77
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-966149
Unusual cases and technical notes

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Video capsule endoscopy in the diagnosis of gastrointestinal Kaposi’s sarcoma

S.  Nagri1 , S.  Duddempudi1 , S. Anand1 , Y.  Arya2
  • 1Department of Gastroenterology, Brooklyn Hospital Center, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
  • 2Department of Gastroenterology, Wyckoff Heights Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
Further Information

S. Nagri, MD

Department of Gastroenterology

Brooklyn Hospital Center

121 Dekalb Ave.

Brooklyn

New York 11201

USA

Fax: +1-347-426-4451

Email: krishna1973@yahoo.com

Publication History

Publication Date:
13 March 2007 (online)

Table of Contents

A 47-year-old Hispanic man who had no significant past medical history was admitted to the Wyckoff Heights Medical Center with nausea and headache, which were followed by seizures. The patient had had significant weight loss and an abdominal computed tomographic scan revealed thickening of the stomach wall ([Figure 1]). The patient initially refused upper endoscopy but agreed to undergo video capsule endoscopy, which showed lesions suggestive of Kaposi’s sarcoma in the small bowel ([Figure 2]). He subsequently agreed to undergo upper endoscopy for biopsy of the lesion and this examination revealed purplish nodular lesions in the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum. Push-enteroscopy showed typical Kaposi’s lesions in the jejunum ([Figure 3]). A biopsy of one of the lesions showed spindle-cell proliferation with vascular splits, an appearance consistent with a diagnosis of Kaposi’s sarcoma ([Figure 4]). Immunohistochemical testing for human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) showed a strong positive reaction ([Figure 5]). The patient was subsequently found to have a very low absolute CD4 count and he tested positive for human inmmunodeficiency virus, with a high viral load. The patient was started on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and was feeling much better when seen on follow-up 2 weeks later.

Endoscopy_UCTN_Code_CCL_1AC_2AC

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Figure 1 A computed tomographic scan of the abdomen showed thickening of the stomach wall.

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Figure 2 Small-bowel capsule endoscopy showed typical Kaposi’s sarcoma lesions.

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Figure 3 Immunohistochemical testing for human herpes virus 8 (HHV-8) showed a strong positive reaction.

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Figure 4 A high-power histological view of a biopsy specimen of one of the Kaposi’s sarcoma lesions.

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Figure 5 Push-enteroscopic view showing a Kaposi’s sarcoma lesion in the jejunum.

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    S. Nagri, MD

    Department of Gastroenterology

    Brooklyn Hospital Center

    121 Dekalb Ave.

    Brooklyn

    New York 11201

    USA

    Fax: +1-347-426-4451

    Email: krishna1973@yahoo.com

    #

      S. Nagri, MD

      Department of Gastroenterology

      Brooklyn Hospital Center

      121 Dekalb Ave.

      Brooklyn

      New York 11201

      USA

      Fax: +1-347-426-4451

      Email: krishna1973@yahoo.com

      Zoom Image

      Figure 1 A computed tomographic scan of the abdomen showed thickening of the stomach wall.

      Zoom Image

      Figure 2 Small-bowel capsule endoscopy showed typical Kaposi’s sarcoma lesions.

      Zoom Image

      Figure 3 Immunohistochemical testing for human herpes virus 8 (HHV-8) showed a strong positive reaction.

      Zoom Image

      Figure 4 A high-power histological view of a biopsy specimen of one of the Kaposi’s sarcoma lesions.

      Zoom Image

      Figure 5 Push-enteroscopic view showing a Kaposi’s sarcoma lesion in the jejunum.