Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria; Maxillofacial Surgeon, Federal Medical Centre, Abakaliki, Nigeria
Oji, C., Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria; Chukwuneke, F., Maxillofacial Surgeon, Federal Medical Centre, Abakaliki, Nigeria
Purpose: To highlight the association of Kaposi sarcoma (KS) with HIV/AIDS in patients of the oral and maxillofacial surgery units of 2 specialist hospitals in Enugu, Nigeria. Patients and Methods: The case notes of 112 patients who had HIV/AIDS lesions in the orofacial region were retrieved from the medical records department of 2 specialist hospitals. After studying the biopsy results, attention was focused on 33 patients (27 male and 6 female; age range, 10 to 59 years) who had KS. We studied the clinical, histopathologic, and therapeutic aspects of these AIDS-related KS cases over a period of 4 years, from January 2000 to December 2003. Results: There were 33 cases of KS and they ranged highest out of the total number of cases (112) cases that had HIV/AIDS. The male-to-female ratio was 4.5:1. At the time of initial presentation, all 33 patients were in stages III and IV of the disease. Late presentation and treatment by "fake" medical doctors were responsible for this situation. They all died within 1 to 18 months after commencement of therapy. Conclusion: KS is strongly associated with HIV/AIDS in our environment. We are of the opinion that the responsible authorities in Nigeria must endeavor to educate their citizens about safe sexual conduct and appropriate health-seeking behavior. © 2008 American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.
antiretrovirus agent; bleomycin; doxorubicin; lamivudine; vincristine; zidovudine; acquired immune deficiency syndrome; adolescent; adult; AIDS patient; anamnesis; article; behavior change; CD4+ T lymphocyte; chemotherapy; clinical article; clinical evaluation; clinical feature; coughing; dysphagia; enzyme linked immunosorbent assay; female; fever; hemoptysis; heterosexual female; heterosexual male; histology; homosexuality; human; Human immunodeficiency virus; Kaposi sarcoma; laboratory test; lesbian; lymphocyte count; male; male homosexual; marriage; mouth lesion; mouth ulcer; Nigeria; physical examination; school child; sexual behavior; weight reduction; Western blotting; Adolescent; Adult; Child; Female; HIV Infections; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Mouth Neoplasms; Neoplasm Staging; Nigeria; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Retrospective Studies; Sarcoma, Kaposi; Sexual Behavior