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Kaposi's pseudosarcoma
Last reviewed: 05.07.2025
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Kaposi's pseudosarcoma is a chronic vascular disease of the skin of the lower extremities, clinically very similar to Kaposi's sarcoma, developing as a result of venous insufficiency (Mali type) or insufficiency of arteriovenous anastomoses (Blufarb-Stewart type).
[ Causes of pseudo-Kaposi's sarcoma
The disease is based on chronic venous insufficiency. In addition to thrombophlebitis and varicose veins, congenital defects in the form of arteriovenous fistulas may occur, sometimes in combination with a vascular superficial nevus (Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome). This may be the cause of venous and capillary stasis, leading to hypoxia and a compensatory increase in the number of vessels.
Pathomorphology of pseudo-Kaposi's sarcoma
The epidermis is slightly, sometimes significantly, thickened, the epidermal processes are smoothed. In the dermis, especially in the subepidermal sections, there is edema, in the upper and middle parts of it there is proliferation of capillaries, their lumens are sometimes sharply dilated. The vessels are separated from each other by layers of fibrous connective tissue, in which fibroblasts predominate. Among them are mononuclear elements and a few cells of inflammatory origin. Sometimes there is a tendency for focal proliferation of vessels in the form of individual nodules, which makes them similar to Kaposi's sarcoma, but the histological picture is similar to that of stasis dermatitis.
Symptoms of pseudo-Kaposi's sarcoma
The Mali type usually develops in men aged 40-50 years, clinically manifested by multiple, painful, reddish-brown spots and plaques, often ulcerating and located in the area of the feet and lower third of the shin, often against the background of changes such as ocher-yellow dermatitis. In the case of pseudosarcoma Bluefarb-Stewart, the process is unilateral, develops at a young age, in the form of spotty-plaque foci, bluish-reddish with a brownish tint, accompanied by pain.
Diagnosis of pseudo-Kaposi's sarcoma
The diagnosis is confirmed by arteriography data. Timely diagnosis is very important due to the different methods of treatment of sarcoma and pseudosarcoma of Kaposi.
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