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Oncology
gastrointestinal malignancies
kaposi sarcoma
A 42-year-old individual with an unestablished medical history presents to a community health center with a chief complaint of progressively worsening skin lesions over the past month. The patient reports a persistent, non-productive cough, generalized fatigue, and a noticeable, unintentional weight loss of approximately 5 kg over the last two months. Vital signs upon arrival are: temperature 37.9°C, blood pressure 105/65 mmHg, pulse 108/min, respirations 18/min, and oxygen saturation 97% on ambient air. Physical examination reveals multiple, non-blanching, violaceous to brownish-purple macules and plaques, some appearing nodular, symmetrically distributed on the trunk and extremities, including the oral mucosa. There is also evidence of oral candidiasis and generalized lymphadenopathy. Given this clinical presentation, what is the most appropriate initial diagnostic investigation and the subsequent management strategy?
| Lab Parameter | Value | Reference Range |
|---|---|---|
| Hemoglobin | 115 g/L | 135-175 g/L |
| White Blood Cell Count | 3.8 x 10^9/L | 4.0-11.0 x 10^9/L |
| CD4+ T-lymphocyte count | 85 cells/µL | 500-1200 cells/µL |
| HIV-1 Viral Load | 250,000 copies/mL | Undetectable |

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