A 40-year-old HIV-positive man has violaceous, non-blanching plaques on the hard palate and lower legs. Biopsy shows proliferation of spindle-shaped endothelial cells forming slit-like vascular spaces with extravasated red blood cells. Which virus is causally linked to this malignancy?
- A Human herpesvirus 8 ✓
- B Human papillomavirus type 16
- C Epstein-Barr virus
- D Hepatitis C virus
Correct answer: A. Human herpesvirus 8
Explanation
Kaposi sarcoma is caused by human herpesvirus 8, also called Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus, which infects spindle cells and drives angiogenic cytokine production. Epstein-Barr virus is linked to Burkitt lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma and oral hairy leukoplakia, HPV 16 to cervical and anal carcinoma, and hepatitis A to mixed cryoglobulinaemia and hepatocellular carcinoma, so recognising the histology anchors the viral association.
Reference: Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease, 10th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.