AIDS-Related Cancer

Kaposi's Sarcoma

Signs and Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment

Signs and Symptoms

Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is a disease in which cancer or malignant cells are found in the tissues under the skin or mucous membranes that line the mouth, nose and anus.

Until the early 1980s, Kaposi's sarcoma was a very rare disease found mainly in older men, patients who had organ transplants or African men. With the AIDS epidemic in the early 1980s, doctors began to notice more cases of Kaposi's sarcoma in Africa and in gay men with AIDS. Kaposi's sarcoma usually spreads more quickly in these patients.

If there are signs of KS, a doctor will examine the skin and lymph nodes carefully. Lymph nodes are small, bean-shaped structures that are found throughout the body. They produce and store infection-fighting cells. The doctor also may recommend other tests to see if the patient has other diseases.

The chance of recovery depends on what type of Kaposi's sarcoma you have, your age and general health, and whether or not you have AIDS. Although KS often responds well to treatment, recurrent disease is common. This means that KS will likely recur after it has been treated. It may come back in the area where it first started or in another part of the body.

KS causes red or purple patches, called lesions, on the skin as well as on mucous membranes. It may spread to other organs in the body, such as the lungs, liver or intestinal tract.

Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Medical Center.
Last updated May 8, 2007