The nurse is assessing the skin of a patient who has acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and notices multiple patchlike lesions on the temple and beard area that are faint pink in color. What does the nurse suspect?

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Kaposi's sarcoma is a vascular tumor that, in the early stages, appears as multiple, patchlike, faint pink lesions over the patient's temple and beard areas. Cherry (senile) angiomas are small (1 to 5 mm), smooth, slightly raised bright red dots that commonly appear on the trunk in all adults over 30 years old. Herpes zoster causes vesicles up to 1 cm in size that are elevated with a cavity containing clear fluid. Measles is characterized by a red-purple maculopapular blotchy rash that appears on the third or fourth day of illness. The rash is first observed behind the ears, spreads over the face, and then spreads over the neck, trunk, arms, and legs. The faint pink patchlike lesions on this patient's temple and beard appear to be Kaposi's sarcoma.

The Nurse Is Assessing the Skin of a Patient Who