Kaposi sarcoma (KS) is a type of cancer that causes lesions — abnormal tissue — to grow in different parts of the body:
- the skin;
- lymph nodes;
- mucous membranes, the lining of the mouth, nose and throat;
- other organs.
The lesions are usually red or purple, and are made of cancer cells, new blood vessels and blood cells. Unlike most cancers, they may start in more than one place at once.
Cause
Kaposi sarcoma is caused by infection with human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8), also called Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV). Most people infected never get Kaposi sarcoma, but some are more likely to develop one of its four types:
| Type | Who is more likely to develop it |
|---|---|
| Epidemic (HIV-associated) | people whose immune systems are weakened by HIV |
| Iatrogenic (transplant-related) | people whose immune systems are weakened by medicines taken after an organ transplant |
| Classic | older men of Mediterranean or Eastern European Jewish heritage |
| Endemic (African) | young men in Africa |
Symptoms
It usually starts as one or more red, purple or brown skin lesions on the legs and feet, most often the ankles or soles. Over time lesions may appear elsewhere.
They may cause no symptoms, but can cause problems as they multiply and grow:
- pressure that blocks the flow of lymph and blood in the legs, causing painful swelling;
- in the stomach or intestines, bleeding, abdominal pain and diarrhoea;
- in the lungs, bleeding and shortness of breath.
Diagnosis
A provider will ask about your medical and family history and examine you, and may order:
- a chest X-ray, for KS in the lungs;
- a biopsy of skin lesions;
- an endoscopy, for KS in the stomach and intestines;
- a bronchoscopy, for KS in the lungs.
If you have KS, blood and imaging tests will likely check whether it has spread.
Treatment
Treatment depends on the type of KS, how many lesions there are and where, the problems they cause, and your overall health.
- Epidemic KS: HIV medicines alone may be enough.
- Iatrogenic KS: changing the dose or switching the transplant medicines may help.
Some people with these types, and others, need more treatment:
- radiation therapy;
- surgery;
- cryosurgery — freezing and destroying abnormal tissue with an instrument;
- chemotherapy;
- immunotherapy.
Sources
- "Kaposi Sarcoma," MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, drawing on the National Cancer Institute (NIH). https://medlineplus.gov/kaposisarcoma.html
- Rewritten in hubnx's own words.
Licence: CC0 1.0 (public domain) · Adapted from medlineplus.gov
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