The nurse is assessing a patient with a history of intravenous drug abuse. In assessing his mouth, the nurse notices a dark red confluent macule on the hard palate. This could be an early sign of what disease or disorder?

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This dark red confluent macule on the hard palate is an oral Kaposi's sarcoma. An oral Kaposi's sarcoma is a bruiselike, dark red or violet, confluent macule that usually occurs on the hard palate but may also appear on the soft palate or gingival margin. Oral lesions such as a Kaposi's sarcoma are among the earliest lesions to develop with AIDS.

The Nurse Is Assessing a Patient with a History of Intravenous