Kaposi’s sarcoma

Kaposi sarcoma
Kaposi sarcoma. Characteristic violaceous plaques on the ala and tip of the nose in a HIV-positive female patient.
Classification and external resources
Specialty	Oncology
ICD-10	C46
ICD-9-CM	176
ICD-O	M9140/3
OMIM	148000
DiseasesDB	7105
MedlinePlus	000661
eMedicine	med/1218 derm/203 oph/481
Patient UK	Kaposi's sarcoma
MeSH	D012514
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Kaposi's sarcoma or Kaposi sarcoma (/ˈkæpəʃi sɑːrˈkoʊmə/; KS) is a tumor caused by infection with human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8), also known as Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) or KS agent. It was originally described by Moritz Kaposi, a Hungarian dermatologist practicing at the University of Vienna in 1872. It became more widely known as one of the AIDS-defining illnesses in the 1980s. The viral cause for this cancer was discovered in 1994. Although KS is now well-established to be caused by a viral infection, there is widespread lack of awareness of this even among persons at risk for KSHV/HHV-8 infection.

Kaposi sarcoma (KS) is a systemic disease that can present with cutaneous lesions with or without internal involvement. Four subtypes have been described: Classic KS, affecting middle aged men of Mediterranean descent; African endemic KS; KS in iatrogenically immunosuppressed patients; and AIDS-related KS. The erythematous to violaceous cutaneous lesions seen in KS have several morphologies: macular, patch, plaque, nodular, and exophytic. The cutaneous lesions can be solitary, localized or disseminated. KS can involve the oral cavity, lymph nodes, and viscera. Classic KS tends to be indolent, presenting with erythematous or violaceous patches on the lower extremities. African endemic KS and AIDS-related KS tend to be more aggressive. The AIDS-related KS lesions often rapidly progress to plaques and nodules affecting the upper trunk, face, and oral mucosa. The diagnosis can be made with a tissue biopsy and, if clinically indicated, internal imaging should be done.

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