Kaposi sarcoma

Kaposi sarcoma A relatively rare type of skin malignancy that tends to affect elderly people and those with an abnormal immune system, as in AIDS. Kaposi sarcoma is caused by human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8), which may be transmitted via kissing. Kaposi sarcoma is a highly vascular (angioblastic) tumor of the skin, characterized by soft purplish plaques and papules that form nodules, which typically start on the feet and ankles and then slowly spread across the skin of the legs, hands, and arms. In AIDS patients, these tumors can also develop internally and cause severe internal bleeding. The treatment depends on the severity of the tumor. Low dosages of radiation therapy can be effective in treating mild cases of Kaposi sarcoma. However, in more severe cases, anticancer drugs may be used to slow the spread of the tumor. The Kaposi sarcoma tumor was first described in 1872 by the dermatologist Moritz Kaposi Kohn. See also AIDS; HIV; sarcoma.