Kaposi Sarcoma:  A review of 387 cases seen in Yaounde, Cameroon

Enow Orock GE¹*, Verla VS², Ashuntantang GE³, Ndom P⁴, and Doh AS⁴

¹Yaounde Cancer Registry, Department of Pathology, General Hospital, Yaounde, Cameroon.

²Department of Internal Medicine , University of Buea, Cameroon.

³Department of Internal Medicine, General Hospital, Yaounde, Cameroon.

⁴National Cancer Control Committee, Yaounde, Cameroon.

*Corresponding Author E-mail:  enowrock24@yahoo.com; Tel: 237 77716045

Accepted 08 September, 2013

Abstract

The introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy has improved on survival and increased the life expectancy of HIV/AIDS patients. This increase predisposes to a high incidence of HIV-associated malignancies among these patients. Kaposi sarcoma is one of the commonest AIDS-related malignancy in our community and is sometimes the clinical presentation that heralds the infection. We were interested to find out the epidemiological and anatomo-clinical aspects of the disease in this population. Data of the Yaounde Population Cancer Registry on patients diagnosed with Kaposi sarcoma between 2004 and 2011 was reviewed in this retrospective population study. Epidemiological and anatomo-clinical data of the patient and the tumour were analyzed. Chi-squared tests were used for statistical analysis. 387 patients with Kaposi sarcoma, including 64% males and 37% females were found in 8 years, giving an annual average of 48. About 55% of the disease was AIDS-associated. The age range for patients was 1-86 years at an average of 42.01 years and median of 40 years. The male average age was 42.4 years and 36.1 years for females. In males the disease is significantly more located in the skin, while the digestive tract with exception of the stomach is a significantly more topographic site for the tumour in females. 3 patients were HIV negative. There is no difference among the sexes for location of the tumour in the stomach, lymph nodes and lung. Kaposi sarcoma is common our community, mostly affects males at mid age, and is predominantly AIDS-related. The tumour location is sex-dependent at certain sites. HIV negative persons are not immune to the disease. HIV serology is recommended for all patients who present with a Kaposi sarcoma and concomitantly, all HIV seropositive patients should be screened for the disease.

Keywords:  Kaposi, sarcoma, AIDS, Yaounde.