A relatively rare type of skin malignancy that tends to
afflict elderly people or, especially, those with an abnormal immune system as in
AIDS. 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, anti-cancer drugs may be used to slow the spread of the tumor.
The tumor was first described in 1872 by the dermatologist Moritz Kaposi (Moritz
Kaposi Kohn) (1837-1902). Born in Austro-Hungary, Kaposi first identified this skin
cancer in older Italian and Eastern European Jewish men.
Kaposi sarcoma is now far more common and spreads more aggressively through the
body among patients with AIDS. Because of the AIDS epidemic, Kaposi sarcoma left
its obscure oncologic niche and entered into daily usage during in the 1990s.
Kaposi sarcoma is caused by a herpes virus -- human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8). This
virus may be transmitted by kissing. Among gay men infected with HHV-8 but without
Kaposi sarcoma, the virus was found in one study in 30% of saliva samples and mouth
swabs compared to only 1% of anal and genital samples and, when present, the levels
of the virus were much higher in saliva than in semen. Gay men who engage in "deep
kissing" -- kissing that involves much contact with saliva -- thus seem to be at
higher risk of catching the virus and developing Kaposi sarcoma. It may therefore
be relevant that HHV-8 is closely related to the Epstein-Barr virus, the cause of
infectious mononucleosis, which can be transmitted by kissing.
The disease is also called Kaposi's sarcoma but Kaposi sarcoma is preferred since
Dr. Kaposi described the tumor but did not possess it.
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