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What Is Kaposi's Sarcoma? | Risk Factors | Symptoms and Diagnosing | Stages | Treatment | About Clinical Trials | Greenebaum Cancer Center
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Kaposi's sarcoma is a disease in which cancerous cells are found in the tissues under the skin or mucous membranes that line the mouth, nose and anus. Kaposi's sarcoma causes red or purple patches (lesions) on the skin and/or mucous membranes and spreads to other organs in the body, such as the lungs, liver or intestinal tract.
Until the early 1980s, Kaposi's sarcoma was a very rare disease found mainly in older men, patients who had organ transplants and African men. When the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic spread in the early 1980s, doctors began to notice more cases of Kaposi's sarcoma in Africa and in gay men with AIDS in the United States and other countries. Kaposi's sarcoma usually spreads more quickly in patients with AIDS.
If a patient has symptoms of Kaposi's sarcoma, a doctor will examine the skin and lymph nodes. The doctor also may order other tests to see if the patient has other diseases.
The chance of recovery (prognosis) and choice of treatment for Kaposi's sarcoma depend on what type of Kaposi's sarcoma the patient has, the patient's age and general health and whether or not the patient has AIDS.
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