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Kaposi's sarcoma Causes and Risks:
Before the AIDS epidemic, Kaposi's sarcoma was seen primarily in elderly Italian and Jewish men and developed slowly in these people. In AIDS patients, it can develop aggressively and often involves the skin, lungs, gastrointestinal tract and other organs. In AIDS, the disease may be caused by immune suppression and recent research suggests that it is a combination of suppression and an as yet unidentified type of herpes virus. The tumors consist of bluish-red or purple nodules made up of vascular tissue. Early lesions may start on the feet or ankles, and spread to the arms and hands. The incidence is approximately 3 out of 100,000 people.
Prevention:
Safe sexual practices can prevent infection with HIV, the virus responsible AIDS and its complications of which Kaposi's sarcoma is one.
Symptoms:
Signs and Tests:
This disease may also alter the results of an EGD (esophagogastroduodenoscopy) .
Treatment:
Treatment decisions depend upon the extent and location of the lesions, as well as the person's symptoms and degree of immunosuppression . Excision of cutaneous lesions can be attempted. Radiation therapy or cryotherapy can be used for lesions in selected areas. Combination chemotherapy can also be used. Lesions can recur after treatment.
Prognosis:
Treatment and remission of Kaposi's lesions does not improve the survival of AIDS patients. The appearance of Kaposi's sarcoma is a poor prognostic sign for individuals with AIDS.
Complications:
The tumor can recur even after apparently successful treatment. This can be a fatal disorder for a person with AIDS .
Call Your Healthcare Provider:
Call your health care provider if you have symptoms of Kaposi's sarcoma.
Kaposi's sarcoma on the toe. This once-rare malignancy of the blood vessels is now associated with AIDS. It is more frequently associated with AIDS in homosexual men than AIDS in IV drug users. The malignancy results in purplish grape-like lesions in the skin, gastrointestinal tract and other organs. In this photograph, the lesion is located on the toe.
Kaposi's sarcoma on the foot. This once-rare malignancy of the blood vessels is now associated with AIDS. It is more frequently associated with AIDS in homosexual men than AIDS in IV drug users. The malignancy results in purplish grape-like lesions in the skin, gastrointestinal tract and other organs.
Kaposi's sarcoma is a vascular cancer that is now closely associated with AIDS. These vascular lesions are typically purple, may be raised, and exhibit a grape-like surface texture.
Kaposi's sarcoma was once a rare malignancy of the blood vessels but is now associated with AIDS. It is more frequently associated with AIDS in homosexual men than AIDS in IV drug users. Recent research has suggested that this malignancy may be caused by a newly discovered herpes virus. The malignancy results in purplish, grape-like lesions in the skin, gastrointestinal tract, and other organs.
Kaposi's sarcoma was once a rare malignancy of the blood vessels but is now associated with AIDS. It is more frequently associated with AIDS in homosexual men than AIDS in IV drug users. The malignancy results most frequently in purplish to reddish-purple flat or grape-like lesions in the skin, gastrointestinal tract, and other organs.
Kaposi's sarcoma, seen here on the thigh, was once a rare malignancy of the blood vessels, but is now associated with AIDS. It is more frequently associated with AIDS in homosexual men than AIDS in IV drug users. The malignancy results in purplish to reddish-purple grape-like lesions in the skin, gastrointestinal tract, and other organs.
Kaposi's sarcoma usually occurs in male homosexuals with AIDS. These lesions can appear anywhere on the body as purple, elevated growths. This sarcoma is located near the anus (perianal).
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