Search

Kaposi's sarcoma is a multicentric malignant neoplasm probably of endothelial origin. Four forms of Kaposi's sarcoma are now recognised. AIDS-Kaposi's sarcoma is the most common malignant neoplasm associated with HIV-infection. About 20% of patients with HIV infection develop Kaposi's sarcoma and half on of them appear oral lesions. The oral mucosa may be the first or the only site of the tumor. In this paper a rare case of oral Kaposi's sarcoma which was the first sign of AIDS in a 43-years old homosexual man is presented.

Reiter's syndrome is characterized by arthritis, non-gonococcal urethritis, conjunctivitis and mucocutaneous lesions. Oral lesions occur in 20-40% of the cases. They appear as papules and ulcerations on the buccal mucosa, gingiva and lips. Lesions on the tongue resemple "geographic tongue". One case of Reiter's syndrome is described. The significance of the clinical lesions, their microscopic appearance and the differential diagnosis are discussed.

A 73 year-old male with a Kaposi's sarcoma presenting as multiple, red-purple papules and nodules on the vermillion border and as ulcerations on the labial mucosa, is described. No other skin or organ involvements were found. The main clinical and histopathological characteristics of the classic form of Kaposi's sarcoma are briefly discussed and the recent aspects on tumor histogenesis and pathogenesis are analysed.

The transmission of HIV infection through contaminated blood and blood products is of a great concern to the medical and dental community and household contacts. The available data support the concept that the risk of causal nosocomial transmission of HIV following needlestick or mucous membranes injuries is extremely low (0.44%). On the other hand no dental professionals, not belonging to any AIDS-high risk group, have showed HIV-antibodies. However, recently one New York dentist, who treated high risk individuals and did not use barrier techniques was found to be HIV antibody positive. Despite of the fact that the risk of causal transmission of HIV is low, appropriate barrier techniques must be used to prevent such transmission. Various studies indicate that household contacts who are not sexual partner of patients with AIDS are at minimal or no risk for horizontal transmission of HIV-infection.