Gingival Kaposi's sarcoma and periodontitis. A case report and suggested treatment approach to the combined lesions.

Kaposi's sarcoma is frequently observed in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, and the mouth is a common site for these lesions. Gingival Kaposi's sarcoma lesions can often be exacerbated by coexisting periodontal disease. To obtain the best treatment results, it is important to recognize and treat the gingival Kaposi's sarcoma lesion and the associated periodontitis concomitantly. In this report we describe a case of oral Kaposi's sarcoma in which gingival debridement, root planning and scaling, and monitored oral hygiene were used in conjunction with intralesional and systemic chemotherapy. These combined therapies significantly reduced the size of the lesions and dramatically improved the symptoms.