Clinicopathologic Characterization of Kaposi Sarcoma on the Foot and Ankle: Analysis of 11 Patients Seen in Our Clinics.

BACKGROUND: Kaposi sarcoma (KS) has multiple clinical variants, and most frequently presents on the lower extremities. Anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) therapy has significantly reduced the incidence of KS. However, KS is still prevalent in both HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected patients. This case series analysis aims to reveal the clinical presentations, differential diagnosis, and treatment options of KS on the foot and ankle. METHODS: Eleven cases of KS involving the foot and ankle were retrieved from our patient database, and their clinicopathologic features were analyzed. RESULTS: All patients were men, aged 29 to 85 years. Two types of KS were found: classic and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-associated epidemic. The average ages of classic and epidemic KS were 65.7 and 41.8 years, respectively. Clinically, three patients manifested multiple erythematous or deep violaceous, or blue-violaceous macules on either the dorsal or plantar surfaces of both feet. Eight patients showed exophytic, pyogenic granuloma-like nodules on the plantar surface, heels, and toes. Histologically, all KSs had uniform intervening fascicles of elongated spindle cells with slit-like vascular spaces filled with red blood cells and immunoreactivity with human herpesvirus-8. The patients were treated according to HIV infection status. Human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients were treated with anti-HIV therapy after primary surgical excision or biopsy. Human immunodeficiency virus-negative patients were treated with either surgical excision, Mohs surgery, or a combination of surgical excision and local radiotherapy according to individual patient clinical presentation. CONCLUSIONS: Kaposi sarcoma is still prevalent in both HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected patients with a variety of clinical presentations. Biopsy, with histologic evaluation, in combination with immunohistochemistry is essential for the differential diagnosis. The patient should be treated according their clinical manifestation, staging, comorbidity, and immune function.

Fibro-Osseous Pseudotumor Arising From Nail Bed of the Great Toe: A Rare Case of Recurrence.

A fibro-osseous pseudotumor (FOPT) is a rare, rapidly enlarging, benign soft-tissue neoplasm that presents with localized pain, swelling, and redness. It typically presents in the hands and much less frequently in the feet. FOPT is characterized histologically by foci of osseous differentiation within the proliferated fibroblasts. This must be differentiated from other benign and malignant lesions. FOPT of the toes has been described in a few reports, but recurrence, following surgical excision, is extremely rare. Here we report a young, healthy female patient who presented with a rapidly growing FOPT of the left great toe. This unusual case had recurred twice following surgical excision, all within a 2-month period of time. The lesion was again completely excised, with no recurrences at follow-ups of 18 and 36 months. In conclusion, FOPT is a rare soft tissue lesion of the toes. It features fibroblastic proliferation and osseous differentiation, which needs to be differentiated from other benign and malignant tumors. The standard treatment is complete surgical excision with an excellent prognosis.

Influence of Hallux Rigidus on Reamputation in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus After Partial Hallux Amputation.

Diabetic foot ulceration of the plantar hallux is a challenging condition and can require partial hallux amputation when complicated by infection. Lower extremity biomechanics play an important role in the development of hallux ulcers, and hallux rigidus (HR) could influence the outcomes after partial hallux amputation. We hypothesized that radiographic evidence of HR in patients with diabetes would be associated with greater ulcer recurrence and reamputation rates after partial hallux amputation. We performed a retrospective review of all patients with diabetes who had undergone a partial hallux amputation from January 2005 to December 2012. The subjects were divided into 2 cohorts according to the presence or absence of HR identified on preoperative radiographs. Baseline characteristics and outcomes were compared using a 2-sample Student's t test for continuous variables, and categorical variables were compared using the chi-square test for homogeneity and Fisher's exact test. A total of 52 patients were included, with 16 (31%) positive for radiographic evidence of HR at partial hallux amputation. Differences in the patient demographics and comorbidities were not significant between 2 cohorts with and without HR or reamputation. Reamputation was required in 5 subjects (31%) with HR and 2 (6%) without HR (p = .023). The average follow-up duration was 126 ± 89 weeks. Our results have demonstrated that the reamputation rate after partial hallux amputation is significantly greater in patients with than in those without radiographic evidence of HR. Surgeons should evaluate patients for HR when planning partial hallux amputation and use adjuvant methods of offloading when HR is evident to prevent recurrent ulceration and reamputation.