Skin tumours: Kaposi sarcoma in AIDS: practice question

A Dermatology question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Dermatology · Skin tumours: Kaposi sarcoma in AIDS

Sample item

An HIV positive man with CD4 count of 60 per microlitre has a few cutaneous Kaposi sarcoma plaques and no visceral disease. What is the first step in management?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

B. Start combination antiretroviral therapy

In AIDS-associated Kaposi sarcoma, combination antiretroviral therapy restores immunity and often leads to regression, so it is the cornerstone of treatment. Systemic chemotherapy such as liposomal doxorubicin is reserved for visceral, rapidly progressive or symptomatic disease.

Option by option

  • A. Start liposomal doxorubicin immediately

    Liposomal doxorubicin is used for extensive, visceral or progressive disease and is not first step in limited disease.

  • B. Start combination antiretroviral therapy (correct)

    Correct. Antiretroviral therapy controls HHV-8 related disease by restoring immunity.

  • C. Whole-body radiotherapy

    Whole-body radiotherapy is not used for limited cutaneous disease.

  • D. Wide local excision of all lesions

    Excision will not control a multifocal virus-driven disease.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Dermatology question

What is the answer to this Dermatology question?

The best answer is B, Start combination antiretroviral therapy. In AIDS-associated Kaposi sarcoma, combination antiretroviral therapy restores immunity and often leads to regression, so it is the cornerstone of treatment.

Why is "Start liposomal doxorubicin immediately" not the answer?

Liposomal doxorubicin is used for extensive, visceral or progressive disease and is not first step in limited disease.

Why is "Whole-body radiotherapy" not the answer?

Whole-body radiotherapy is not used for limited cutaneous disease.

Why is "Wide local excision of all lesions" not the answer?

Excision will not control a multifocal virus-driven disease.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Skin tumours: Kaposi sarcoma in AIDS in Dermatology. Systemic chemotherapy such as liposomal doxorubicin is reserved for visceral, rapidly progressive or symptomatic disease.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Skin tumours: Kaposi sarcoma in AIDS?

Learn each condition by its primary lesion, site and signature sign. Then use the flashcards and the other Dermatology questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.