Successful monochemotherapy of extensive gastrointestinal Kaposi's sarcoma with bowel obstruction in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

We report the case history of a 28-year-old homosexual man of Caucasian origin whose diagnosis of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome was established one year before admission on the basis of a positive human immunodeficiency virus serology and cutaneous Kaposi's sarcoma. Severe postprandial vomiting pointed to bowel obstruction in an emaciated, poor risk patient. Endoscopy revealed multifocal, violaceous tumours throughout the upper gastrointestinal tract which, eventually, obstructed the duodenum. Histology confirmed the putative diagnosis of gastrointestinal Kaposi's sarcoma, which responded well to monochemotherapy with vincristine. Significant clinical improvement and repeat endoscopy indicated tumour regression and resolution of bowel obstruction.