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

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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 organs, 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.

More on [ Kaposi's sarcoma ]

Kaposi's Sarcoma - Twitter Search

"I feel like breast cancer is the poseur cancer. Everyone's got it. I'm into cool indie cancers, like Kaposi's sarcoma"
df_Revision (Sean Schnarr) Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:41:51 -0000
"I feel like breast cancer is the poseur cancer. Everyone's got it. I'm into cool indie cancers, like Kaposi's sarcoma"
c-Kit (CD117) expression in classic Kaposi's sarcoma.: - http://tinyurl.com/ydg9hok
research_papers (qasim) Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:18:24 -0000
c-Kit (CD117) expression in classic Kaposi's sarcoma.: - http://tinyurl.com/ydg9hok
Nicotine Skin Patch in Treating Patients With Kaposi's Sarcoma http://bit.ly/izqHl
trialscentral (Trials Central) Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:52:59 -0000
Nicotine Skin Patch in Treating Patients With Kaposi's Sarcoma http://bit.ly/izqHl
Use of Stealth Liposomal Doxorubicin HCl ( DOX-SL ) in the Treatment of Moderate to Severe AIDS-Related Kaposi's Sarcoma http://bit.ly/psCJW
trialscentral (Trials Central) Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:51:57 -0000
Use of Stealth Liposomal Doxorubicin HCl ( DOX-SL ) in the Treatment of Moderate to Severe AIDS-Related Kaposi's Sarcoma http://bit.ly/psCJW

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