Kaposi's Sarcoma
A sarcoma is a cancer that develops in areas such as bone, fat, cartilage, blood vessels or other tissues. Dr. Moritz Kaposi first described the condition in
1872.
For decades Kaposi's sarcoma was considered a rare disease that mostly affected elderly men of Mediterranean or Jewish heritage, organ transplant patients, or young adult African men. In the last 20 years, however, the vast majority of Kaposi's sarcoma cases have developed in association with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
Description of Kaposi's Sarcoma
The malignancy results most frequently in purplish to
reddish-purple flat or grape-like lesions in the skin, gastrointestinal tract, and other organs.
Tumors commonly develop in the tissues below the skin surface, or in the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose, or anus. They appear as raised blotches or nodules that may be purple, brown, or red. Sometimes the disease causes painful swelling, especially in the legs, groin area, or skin around the eyes.
Signs & Symptoms of Kaposi's Sarcoma
Growths on the skin develop in the form of red-brown or purple lesions. There can be abdominal discomfort and sometimes coughing due to sarcoma of the lungs.
Around 1 in every 3 people with AIDS-related KS will develop mouth and throat lesions making eating and swallowing problematic. Blocked lymph glands can
result in swelling, particularly in the legs or feet.
Treatments for Kaposi's Sarcoma
Treatment depends upon the extent and severity of the problem. Treatment choices may also be affected by the severity of HIV infection or other underlying
conditions. Some of the treatment options include:
Cryotherapy for Kaposi's sarcoma
Cryotherapy involves freezing off lesions with liquid nitrogen. Scarring in the form of white spots occurs but is less obvious in people with lighter
skins.
Radiation treatment for Kaposi's Sarcoma
This option is used for treatments of the skin, perticularly when the lesions are large or cause pain.
Chemotherapy
Topical injections of anti-cancer drugs may be used to treat lesions.
Intravenous Chemotherapy for Kaposi's Sarcoma
In cases where the condition is severe anti-cancer medication may be used intravenously. The most commonly used drugs are liposomal doxorubicin, liposomal daunorubicin, and paclitaxel.
More Images of Kaposi's Sarcoma.
Further Information about Karposi's Sarcoma
