Bacillary angiomatosis of the cervix and vulva in a patient with aids

• Published in: Obstetrics and gynecology (New York. 1953) Vol. 88; no. 4; pp. 709 - 711
• Main Authors: Long, Steven R., Whitfeld, Margot J., Eades, Carol, Koehler, Jane E., Korn, Abner P., Zaloudek, Charles J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01-10-1996; The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Adult; AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections - diagnosis; AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections - pathology; AIDS/HIV; Angiomatosis, Bacillary - diagnosis; Angiomatosis, Bacillary - pathology; Biological and medical sciences; Female; Humans; Immunodeficiencies; Immunodeficiencies. Immunoglobulinopathies; Immunopathology; Medical sciences; Uterine Cervical Diseases - diagnosis; Uterine Cervical Diseases - pathology; Vulvar Diseases - diagnosis; Vulvar Diseases - pathology; Bartonella; Cardiovascular disease; Angiomatosis; Uterine cervix; Vascular disease; Female genital system; Bacteria; Female; Diagnosis; Human; Immunopathology; Clinical form; AIDS; Sequela; Vulva; Immune deficiency; Female genital diseases; Infection; Case study; Angioma; Viral disease; Bacteriosis; Vulvar diseases; Bartonellaceae; Uterine cervix diseases
• ISSN: 0029-7844; 1873-233X
• DOI: 10.1016/0029-7844(96)00125-1

Bacillary angiomatosis is a clinicopathologic entity that most often is identified in the skin of patients with AIDS. This report presents an example of bacillary angiomatosis of the female genital tract.
Bacillary angiomatosis presented as red-purple nodules of the vulva and cervix in a 32-year-old woman with AIDS. Histologic examination revealed the lobular epithelioid vascular proliferation and hazy clumps of bacteria that characterize bacillary angiomatosis. The diagnosis was confirmed on Warthin-Starry-stained tissue and by blood cultures, which were positive for
Bartonella (
Rochalimaea)
henselae.
Accurate diagnosis of this infection is important because 1) bacillary angiomatosis is commonly mistaken for Kaposi sarcoma, 2) it is effectively treated with inexpensive antibiotics, and 3) undiagnosed and/or untreated bacillary angiomatosis may lead to overwhelming disseminated infection and death.