Kaposi's Sarcoma

Kaposi's sarcoma is a cancer that causes patches of abnormal tissue to grow under the skin, in the lining of the mouth, nose, and throat or in other organs. The patches are usually red or purple and are made of cancer cells and blood cells. The red and purples patches often cause no symptoms, though they may be painful. If the cancer spreads to the digestive tract or lungs, bleeding can result. Lung tumors can make breathing hard.

Before the AIDS epidemic, KS usually developed slowly. In AIDS patients, though, the disease moves quickly. Treatment depends on where the lesions are and how bad they are. Treatment for the AIDS virus itself can shrink the lesions. However, treating KS does not improve survival from AIDS itself.

Kaposi's Sarcoma on Wikipedia

'''Kaposi's sarcoma''' '''(KS)''' is a kind of sarcoma caused by a herpesvirus infection in which cancerous cells, as well as abnormal growth of blood vessels, form solid lesions in connective tissue. KS was historically very rare and found mainly in older men of Mediterranean or African origin (''classic KS'') or patients with severely weakened immune systems, such as after an organ transplant (''immunosuppressive treatment related KS''). However, in the early 1980s a more aggressive form, ''epidemic KS'', began to be seen in AIDS patients and was one of the first clues to the existence of the AIDS epidemic. The infectious agent responsible for all forms of the disease is known as Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV).

Symptoms

KS lesions are nodules or blotches that may be red, purple, brown, or black, usually painless but sometimes painful and swollen. They most often appear under the surface of the skin or on mucous membranes, where they are only dangerous if they cause enough swelling to obstruct circulation, breathing, or eating. They may also be found in internal organ (anatomy), particularly the respiratory system or gastrointestinal system; internal lesions are most commonly seen in epidemic KS, and can cause fatal bleeding. KS can occur among transplant patients, in whom the tumor can disseminate. Stopping immunosuppression can eliminate KS but also can cause rejection of the transplanted organ.

Pathophysiology and diagnosis

KS lesions contain tumor cell (biology) with a characteristic abnormal elongated shape, called ''spindle cells''. The tumor is highly vascular, containing abnormally dense and irregular blood vessels, which leak red blood cells into the surrounding tissue and give the tumor its dark color. Inflammation around the tumor may produce swelling and pain. Although KS may be suspected from the appearance of lesions and the patient's risk ... [ Read More ]

External Resources

TheBody.com: Kaposi's Sarcoma - Comprehensive information about this AIDS-associated cancer.

CancerBACUP: Understanding Kaposi's Sarcoma - Information about the subject in booklet format from this UK organization covering such topics as definitions, causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment options.

Intron A - Shering - Official Pharmaceutical website for this medication used in the treatment of malignant melanoma, hepatitis C, hepatitis B, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, hairy cell leukemia, condylomata acuminata, and AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma.

Vinblastine (Velban, Velsar) - Dosage, side effects, and other topics, with particular reference to the use of this medication in treating Kaposi's sarcoma.

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